As a new mother, it is an emotional moment to breastfeed your baby while enjoying the baby’s cooing and little movements. Breastfeeding is a significant process that provides infants with nutrition in the early days of life. However, mothers often choose to breastfeed their baby past their first year or beyond, which is called “extended breastfeeding.”
Extended breastfeeding has its advantages, significantly lifting the health of the baby. In many cultures, extended breastfeeding is treated as taboo, and according to their traditions, mothers should not choose extended breastfeeding as it is not suitable for the health of both the mother and the baby. Scientific studies have different findings; for instance, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the longer you breastfeed, the more health benefits a mother and her baby derive. However, it should entirely be your own choice to opt for extended breastfeeding or not. You can enrol in childbirth classes to learn more about breastfeeding your child.
Let’s dive more into the topic and discover a few advantages of extended breastfeeding.
Nutrition
There are myths in society that breast milk starts losing its nutritional value after a year, which is simply not true. Studies have found that the composition of breast milk changes depending on the baby’s growth and needs. After a year of childbirth, breast milk has comparatively higher fat and energy content, which is beneficial to keeping the baby healthy.
Brain development
Studies found that infants who received any breastfeeding for one year or exclusively breastfed for six months have higher childhood IQ at school age. They say your toddler can turn out to be brighter because of the presence of Omega-3 fatty acids/DHA in the breast milk. However, no similar results were found for socio-emotional development. You can know about this in detail by opting for childbirth classes and breastfeeding your child accordingly.
Child comfort
Extended breastfeeding allows you to comfort your child in a stressful situation. When you breastfeed your child for an extended period, it can become your baby’s source of comfort. It has been observed that infants who are breastfed during vaccination cry less and feel relaxed. Breastfeeding your baby for an extended period can foster a stronger bond between you and your baby, making you your child’s source of comfort.
Diseases risk
When mothers breastfeed their babies for a longer time, it is also beneficial for their health, lowering the risks of developing certain diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it reduces the risks of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and many others. It also mitigates the risks of developing any heart disease or stroke.
To summarize
Extended breastfeeding has plenty of advantages. From enhanced nutrition and boosted baby brain development to mitigating the risks of developing diseases of the mother, it can be beneficial as long as you and your baby enjoy it. So, breastfeeding for an extended duration may help you live a happier and healthier life.