Our Top 10 Benefits of Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding for Parent and Baby, With Tips and Tricks
9 minute read
Breastfeeding can feel like the most natural thing in the world, but sometimes it can take a little while for it to become like second nature.
With a little preparation and practice, you’ll avoid feeling discouraged when a nursing session doesn’t go quite as planned.
From our top 10 benefits for birthing parent and baby, to tips and tricks for getting started… Here’s what you need to know to feel confident and ready to breastfeed/chestfeed your new baby.
Top 5 Chest/breastfeeding Benefits for Mom or Birthing Parent
1. Chest/breastfeeding helps your body recover and heal.
Throughout pregnancy, your uterus expanded from the size of a pear to fill nearly your entire abdomen! Crazy right?
But once your baby arrives, your body begins the process of reducing your uterus to its former size. And chest/breastfeeding can help this process immensely!
While nursing, your body produces higher levels of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone gives your uterus a helping hand as it returns to its pre-pregnancy size. It also reduces bleeding.
Bonus: Breastfeeding also burns extra calories, helping you lose the pregnancy weight faster!
2. Reduce your risk of postpartum depression.
Chest/breastfeeding your baby also lowers your chances of experiencing postpartum depression. Good ol’ oxytocin and another hormone, prolactin, promote positive feelings while nursing. They even help with stress reduction!
Bonus: Birthing parents often express feeling increased confidence and a greater ability to experience a state of calmness…
3. Strengthen the physical and emotional bond with your baby.
Nursing also gives you regular time to bond with your newborn. This allows you both to have more affectionate time together with plenty of skin-to-skin contact, holding and stroking…
And this special time together can lead to some major benefits.
Your baby is more likely to be socially and behaviorally equipped as a child (and later adults!). Plus, you’ll learn to read your baby’s cues much more quickly! And this builds trust between you and your little one.
4. Lower your risk for diseases later in life.
Nursing can provide protection against cancers like breast cancer and ovarian cancer. And it may lower your risk for other diseases such as:
5. Saves you time and money!
There’s no doubt that infant formula, and the nipples and bottles that go along with it, can be expensive! Plus, it can be very time consuming to prepare. This often adds an extra layer of stress when you’re trying to adapt to being a new parent.
But chest/breastfeeding is essentially…free! And you’re able to feed your baby whenever and wherever you need to. You’ll also save time since you don’t have to buy and measure out formula, sterilize nipples, or warm up bottles!
Bonus: Nursing parents may have an easier time getting out the door! Any new parent will tell you how challenging even short trips can seem. But with chest/breastfeeding, you’ll have less to pack and feeding on the go is a whole lot simpler.
5 Chest/breastfeeding Benefits for Baby & Child Development
1. Human milk provides the perfect balance of nutrients for your baby.
You may have heard about the benefits of your earliest breast/chest milk, called colostrum. Your body makes this liquid during the first couple of days after birth. And it’s packed-full of antibodies and tons of other nutritious goodies like protein, salts, fats, and vitamins. Scientists still have not been able to replicate all the benefits found in your colostrum!
And once your breast/chest milk comes in, your little one will receive a delicious meal full of vitamins, protein, and fat… Everything they need to grow and thrive!
2. Nursing strengthens your baby’s immune system.
Human milk has tons of benefits that come from your more mature immune system… This includes a variety of enzymes, antioxidants, and antibodies you’ve gained throughout your life.
Nursing allows you to pass on all these protective qualities to your baby. Which then helps them to fight off any viruses or bacteria they’re exposed to.
And as your little one grows, the protections given through your breast/chest milk naturally evolve to meet their needs! Isn’t your body amazing?
3. Chest/breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of disease and trips to the doctor.
With all these extra antibodies, your baby will be better protected from illness and disease. Breastfed babies experience:
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- Less diarrhea, constipation, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux, and preterm necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Fewer colds and respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and whooping cough
- Less asthma and allergies
- Fewer ear infections
- Fewer cases of bacterial meningitis
- Better vision and less retinopathy of prematurity
- Lower rates of infant mortality
- Lower rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Lower rates of Childhood Leukemia
- Lower rates of type l/ll diabetes
- Improved dental health
- Improved neurodevelopmental outcomes
This means fewer trips to the hospital or doctor! And your baby will have a better chance of growing into a healthy child and adult.
4. Breast/chest milk promotes healthy weight throughout life.
Nursing your baby significantly reduces their chance of experiencing obesity later in life.
How you might ask? Because breast/chestfed babies learn how to self-regulate the amount of milk they drink. This helps them develop healthy eating patterns.
They also get extra help from receiving more of the hormone leptin, which helps regulate appetite and food storage!
5. Increase your baby’s intelligence.
That’s right! Studies show that chest/breastfeeding has positive advantages for your baby’s brain development…both in the short and long term. This is most likely due to increased physical contact and intimacy between you and your baby.
Nursing could lead to higher IQ scores — dream college here we come! — and a decrease in the chance of learning difficulties later in life.
If you’ve decided that chest/breastfeeding is the right fit for you, you may be thinking “Now what?”
Well, for some moms or birthing parents, nursing comes super naturally, like the baby is magnetically attracted to your breast/chest. While for others, it can take a little practice. But once you get the hang of things, you’ll be golden!
And the good news is it’s really easy to get prepared for either scenario, with a little bit of education. Here, we’ll share a few helpful tips and resources to get you started!
Breast/Chestfeeding Latch Tricks
All birthing parents should know the “ABC’s” of chest/breastfeeding: Awareness, Be Patient, and Comfort.
Awareness: When you first get started chest/breastfeeding, your baby will need to eat every 2-3 hours. This will decrease over time. But being aware of when your baby is hungry and feeding them “on demand” will help your body to make enough milk for your baby.
Also, look for “hunger cues.” Like your baby moving their hands toward their mouths, making sucking noises or mouth movements, or moving toward your breast/chest. Waiting for your baby to cry, may be a sign that they’re too hungry!
Be Patient: Be patient with your baby and yourself! Don’t rush through your baby’s feedings. Your baby may need to feed for 30-40 minutes.
And of course, be patient with yourself! Chest/breastfeeding is a totally new skill that you and your baby are both learning. Be kind to yourself and remember it can take a little while to get into the swing of things.
Comfort: Remember to relax! Play some soothing music, dim the lights, or grab a comfy pillow. Being calm and relaxed is so important to allow your milk to flow.
Once you’ve mastered your “ABC’s…” Focus on which positions and attachments are the most successful for your and your baby.
Take time to try out different ways of holding your baby. There are many wonderful positions you can learn. What’s most important is figuring out what works best for you and your little one.
Try changing up different positions for each feeding, or using pillows for support. But remember to remain comfortable!
And finally, learn the steps to mastering a good latch. A good latch is one that is comfortable and doesn’t cause any pain. This can take a little practice, but will ensure that your baby is getting the most milk.
Chest/breastfeeding Tips for First Time Moms or Birthing Person
There are many things you can do as a first time mom or birthing person to help you have chest/breastfeeding success.
Take a chest/breastfeeding class.
Our Breastfeeding 101 class is an amazing resource if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available on chest/breastfeeding.
Learn the key techniques to achieve success – and we’ll also help you avoid the most common problems!
We’ll teach you how to get a good latch, positioning options, knowing when and how much to feed your baby, and how to know if your baby is getting enough milk.
We also offer a helpful class for working moms or birthing persons: Breastfeeding for Working Mothers: Planning, Preparing, & Pumping. This class will help ease your worries about continuing to breastfeed when you return to work. It can be done, and we’ll show you how!
Talk to friends who breastfeed/chestfeed or join a lactation support group.
Do you have questions about chest/breastfeeding? Would you like to weigh your baby and see how they are growing?
Stop by the Babies in Bloom Lactation Lounge! This is a chest/breastfeeding support group and all new moms and birthing persons are welcome. It’s a perfect fit if you’re looking for community, encouragement, and a safe place to ask your questions. Come join us any time!
Stock up on the supplies you need for chest/breastfeeding, such as nursing bras and other items.
Want a one-stop-shop for all your chest/breastfeeding needs? Browse the Babies in Bloom Boutique! Find carefully sourced and expert-tested products for all stages of pregnancy and infancy. Our boutique saves you from hours of endless research on Google.
Not sure what you need? Stop by the boutique, grab a cup of complimentary tea, and pull up a chair to chat with one of our experts. Our ‘Bloom Girls’ (our affectionate nickname for our sales associates!) will point you in the right direction.
Stay together after the birth.
This will promote closeness and a hormonal response that helps with chest/breastfeeding success. Have a conversation with your doctor or health provider to let them know your preference.
Keep your baby in the room with you.
Both at the hospital and once you return home. This closeness promotes chest/breastfeeding. And you’ll more quickly recognize when your baby is hungry.
Get the Support You Need
Chest/breastfeeding can sometimes feel intimidating. But you are not alone!
We’ve been in your shoes and want to be a safe sanctuary where you can be vulnerable with your struggles. At Babies in Bloom, you’ll find the compassionate, professional help you need to support your new baby.
Take the next step that is most meaningful for your journey:
- Schedule a 1:1 consultation with one of our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. They are here to guide you through everything you need to know about breastfeeding. Our educators are gentle, compassionate, and have years of experience teaching parents about breastfeeding.
- Attend a class or stop by the Lactation Lounge.
- Come by the Boutique to weigh your baby on a professional scale, get fitted for a nursing bra, or chat with one of our experts about what you need.
- Shop online and enjoy curbside pickup or we’ll mail your order to you!
We’d love to support you along your journey!
