Breastfeeding: Health Benefits for the Mother
Breast milk is best for your baby... And you! Ms Kellie Kong, Dietitian from the Department of Dietetics & Nutrition at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) explains how breastfeeding benefits the mother.
Breastfeeding
benefits for the mother include lowering breast cancer risk, preventing breast engorgement, and more.
Continued from previous page.
Breastfeeding provides many health benefits not only to your baby, but to you too.
If you’ve ever felt like giving up on breastfeeding your baby – read on! According to Ms Kellie Kong, Dietitian from the
Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), a member of the
SingHealth group, what’s good for your baby is also good for you.
How breastfeeding benefits you
Breastfeeding heals your body
Breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin which helps your uterus, which was stretched during pregnancy, to contract and return to its pre-pregnancy shape and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth.
Breastfeeding also prevents painful breast engorgement, a condition where your breasts are too full with milk. Breast engorgement may occur when you switch from producing colostrum to mature milk or when you miss a few feedings.
Breastfeeding lowers your risk of certain types of illnesses
Breastfeeding lowers your risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.
Breastfeeding helps you lose weight faster
Approximately 500 calories per day are required to produce breast milk, and this, may help with post natal weight loss (1-2kg per month).
Breastfeeding saves time and money
Breastfeeding is convenient and does not require bottles or you to prepare the milk. It is free of germs and is uncontaminated as it comes straight from the breast. Breastfeeding saves you time and money as you can nurse your baby anywhere and at any time. It also gives you regular time to relax and bond with your baby.
See previous page to learn about the
benefits of breastfeeding for the baby.
Ref: O17
Contributor(s):
Ms Kellie Kong, Dietitian
Fadhlina Jasni, HealthXchange Editor
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