Sunday, August 16, 2009

Breastfeeding - Cuts Cancer Risks in Mothers (II)


Suckling helps prevent post-partum haemorrhage

Nursing her baby causes the mother's body to release oxytocin, which stimulates contractions which help shrink the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size while expelling the placenta.

These contractions also shut off the maternal blood vessels that formerly fed the baby and discourage excessive bleeding. Woman who choose not to breastfeed must be given synthetic oxytocin to insure against haemorrhaging.

Breastfeeding decrease insulin requirements for breastfeeding mothers who are diabetics.

Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive

This is true only if you are exclusively breastfeeding, and have not gotten your period back following childbirth. Night nursing encourages longer amenorrhoea (periodlessness). If you really don't want to get pregnant again, use some back up birth control even if you haven't gotten your period again. You will have no way of knowing when your first ovulation will occur, and by the time you figure it out you may be expecting! Still, generally speaking, breastfeeding contributes to optimum child spacing.

Protects you against anaemia (ifon deficiency)

Since many exclusively breastfeeding mother do not begin to menstruate for a year or longer, their iron stores are not depleted by monthly bleeding.

Self confidence booster for mom

There is nothing more amazing than looking at plump 6-month=old baby and knowing that the only nutrition this happy little creature has received has come from your own body.

[Source:CAP GUIDE: Breastfeeding makes your child more intelligent & healthy]