Written By: Tavishi Dogra | Updated : August 6, 2022 7:56 PM IST
It has been proved that breastfeeding benefits both the mother and her child. While it is a personal preference, physicians often recommend exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a baby's life. This is because breastfeeding promotes emotional bonding between the mother and the baby and releases naturally soothing hormones like oxytocin and prolactin that stimulate stress reduction and positive feelings in the mother, thereby leading to mothers with good self-esteem and less cranky babies.
In addition, breastfeeding is always associated with better growth and immunity, but it has long-term, sustained and lesser-known benefits on a child's development. For example, research has proven that breastfeeding is associated with improved cognitive development, meaning problem-solving abilities at five years of age.
Dr Himani Narula, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician Director & Co-founder of Continua kids, shares four lesser-known benefits of breastfeeding
The world health organization and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding till six months and continuation of breastfeeding till two years of age, along with complementary feeds being added at six months. In addition, various longitudinal studies have demonstrated that breastfed babies have 1 to 7 intelligence points higher than non-breast feed. Thus, there is enough reason to promote breastfeeding among lactating mothers.
Breast milk provides a baby with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development; hence, it's their fundamental right and our responsibility. There are lesser known benefits of breastfeeding on child development, but a shred of robust scientific evidence supports the same.
