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Some Practical Benefits of Breastfeeding
- Summayyah's Garden
Salamu aliykum wa rahmat'Allah, Here are a few conclusions come to by modern medicine and study that again confirm the wisdom of Allah the exalted and the completness and perfection of Islam.
Breastfed babies:
- Get sick less often and get less severe illnesses
- Are hospitalized less often and have a lower rate of mortality
- Have a lower risk of diarrheal disease
- Have a lower incidence of gastrointestinal illness
- Have a lower risk of urinary tract infections
- Have a lower incidence of respiratory disease
- Have a lower incidence of otitis media ear infections
- Have al lower incidence of allergies
- Have a lower rate of pneumonia
- Have lower rates of obesity
- Have a lower incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Have fewer learning and behavior difficulties
Breastfeeding:
- Helps bond mother and child
- Confers passive immunity
- Is protective against measles and other communicable diseases
- Provides optimal growth and neurological development
- Prevents malocclusion and leads to better teeth and jaw development
- Protects against hypothermia
- Provides partial protection against necrotising entercolitis
- Provides major protection against bacteremia and meningitis
- Reduces the incidence of childhood lymphoma
- Enhances visual development
- Provides protection against neonatal sepsis
- Is less risky for premature babies and low birth rate babies
Artificially fed babies:
- Have an increased risk factor for juvenile diabetes
- May have impaired antibody response to vaccines
- Who are premature experience apnea and bradycardia more frequently
- Have a higher risk of inflammatory illness
- Have a higher risk of celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cholera, and neonatal hypocalcemic tetany
Benefits for the Mother from breastfeeding:
- Bonds mother and child
- Provides the mother hormonal induced contentment
- Encourages efficient uterine contractions after childbirth
- Allows mothers to lose pregnancy weight and size faster
- Is convenient
- The milk is pre-warmed, clean and always available
- Is cost effective and saves money
- Contributes to natural family planning
- Contributes to household food security
- Fosters confidence and promotes self-esteem
- Reduces the incidence of urinary tract infections
- Is protective against cancer (breast, ovarian, cervical)
- Lowers the incidence of chronic hepatitis
- Reduces the incidence of osteoporosis
- Reduces the requirements of insulin for lactating diabetic mothers Benefits for the community
Additionally breastfeeding:
- Results in less environmental waste and pollution
- Frees up health resources
- Saves money for hospitals and health clinics
- May decrease spending on imports.