BREASTFEEDING BEYOND SIX MONTHS: THESE ARE THE SHORT AND LONG TERM BENEFITS FOR THE HEALTH OF THE BABY AND THE MOTHER

Breast milk is the best food we can give the baby and it is also the first vaccine he receives, since colostrum contains antibodies and substances that will protect against infections and diseases.

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and at least up to two years supplemented with other foods. Although we all know the benefits it brings in its first stage, today we want to review the current and future health benefits of mother and baby, offering breastfeeding maintenance beyond six months. Did you know them all?

Protect the baby against diseases and obesity

The proteins and nutrients that breast milk contains in its different stages, provide an important pillar of health for the baby, both during childhood as well as in adulthood, strengthening your immune system.

And is that according to experts, breastfeeding would reduce the risk of suffering infections, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, candidiasis, certain childhood cancers, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and obesity. In addition, according to the latest studies, it would act as a powerful shield against respiratory diseases, and it has been seen that it significantly reduces the risk of gasps and wheezing of the baby in its first years of life.

In Babies and more Breastfeeding protects the baby against respiratory diseases, especially when the mother is asthmatic

Promotes proper oral development

Breast sucking stimulates the baby's oral muscles, it favors that the jaw advances from its distal position, and favors a correct growth of the lower jaw. All this helps to avoid up to 50 percent of dental malocclusions and mandibular retrognathisms, and favors a good relationship between the maxilla and the jaw.

But these benefits not only influence an aesthetically correct denture for the child, but also its functionality, avoiding future problems related to bite and speech.

In Babies and more Breastfeeding prepares the child for chewing and benefits its proper oral development

It is an important source of calories

Breast milk is an intelligent liquid that adapts to the needs of the baby according to its nutritional requirements and its growth stage.

And although after six months, the baby needs to eat solid foods that provide essential nutrients such as iron and vitamins B and D, breast milk will still account for 93% of accumulated daily calories, and about half between 11 and 16 months of life of the baby.

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It has a positive impact on your mental and behavioral health

In the short term, breastfeeding has a baby relaxing and calming effect, because breast milk acts as a natural soothing if the child is sick, altered or tired. In fact, there are studies that show that breastfeeding reduces crying and provides relief against vaccines.

In the long term, breastfeeding is associated with a fewer behavior problems in school-age children and also to an improvement in the mental health of children and adolescents. In addition, it would favor cognitive development and have a positive impact on the IQ.

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Benefits for the mother

But the benefits of breastfeeding beyond six months not only impact the baby, but also the mother:

Contributing to reduce the risk of certain diseases such as heart disease, strokes (such as heart attacks and strokes), hypertension after menopause, type 2 diabetes and liver disease related to non-alcoholic fatty liver.

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Helping to reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

In this regard, it should be noted that the risk of breast cancer is reduced by 4.3% for each year the mother produces milk. Although the exact reason is still unknown, this may be due to the fact that milk production reduces the frequency of ovulation or also because the breastfeeding process modifies and restores breast cells, contributing to their return to their natural state.

On the other hand, and although it is unknown what is due, breastfeeding also contributes to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by more than a third. In addition, breastfeeding reduces by 32% the risk that the baby develops this disease later in life.

Breastfeeding beyond six months help the mother fight stress, to alleviate the pain and has an antidepressant effect on it, thanks to oxytocin (also known as the "love hormone"), which is released during suction.
Recently we also echoed a new study carried out by the universities of Boise and Iowa, which indicated that breastfeeding beyond six months extends the mother's sensitivity to her child up to ten years.

Breast milk is an excellent food for the child, how old he is, and there is no age limit for weaning. While the child continues to breastfeed, both he and his mother will continue to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits that breastfeeding always brings.