Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby's Immune System

We learned via HealthyChildren that "Human milk provides virtually all the protein, sugar, and fat your baby needs to be healthy". It also contains many substances that benefit your baby’s immune system, including antibodies, immune factors, enzymes, and white blood cells." 

These substances protect your baby against a wide variety of diseases. In some cakes, it can even protect your baby after he has been weaned.   For example, if you develop a cold while breast feeding, you are likely to pass these germs to your baby. However, the  antibodies your body produces to fight that cold also will be passed on through your milk. Therefore, these antibodies will help your baby conquer the cold gems and avoid getting sick. 

The articled stated that, "This defense against illnesses significantly decreases the chances that your breastfeeding baby will suffer from ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or certain types of spinal meningitis." Infants under the age of one who breastfed exclusively for at least four months were less likely to be hospitalized for a lower respiratory tract infection, such as croup, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia, than were their babies who were fed with formula. 

Are you interested in learning more about breastfeeding? Join us for our weekly lactation clinics to learn more and how to breastfed more effectively. 

Click here to learn more about Community Well's lactation clinics.