6 MONTHS EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING

A few months before our baby was born, my wife and I agreed to breastfeed our newborn baby exclusively, since we know that breast milk is the best food for babies and it has additional advantages for moms too. So my wife has prepare the “milk factory” (breast) since 7th month of pregnancy, she went to breastfeeding clinic and group to adding some information and practical advices about how to prepared herself for 6 months exclusive breastfeeding, and how to nursing properly. Although breastfeed come in naturally but it’s requires practices and skill for both moms and the baby. After she has enough knowledge, she transferred the knowledge to me, so I can understand how important breast feed is. I supported my wife with all that I can give her (exclude breastfeed of course, I wonder if men can breastfeed babies…ouch).

What is Exclusive Breastfeeding?

The exclusive breastfeeding is that baby feed only by breast milk not add with any kind of food, food supplement or even water. Breast milk has the entire nutritional ingredient that baby needs, it has complete composition which can be changed and adjusted by itself in every step of the baby grow and development. That why it’s called exclusive breastfeeding.
The Expert consultation on the optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding state that If babies breastfeed exclusively over 6 months, the baby has higher protective effect from illness infection rather than babies who only has 4 -6 months exclusive breastfeed. That quote is encouraging us more to do the 6 months exclusive breastfeeding for our baby.

What is the benefit of breast milk anyway?

1. The Benefit of Breastfeeding For Baby

   
   One of the major benefits of the breast milk is colostrums. Colostrums is the first milk that come up from your breast, it’s creamy, a little bit yellow in the color, but it has antibodies that protected your baby from illness, before the baby can developed its immune system. Some said that colostrums is the first immunization, because it has more benefit of a medicine rather than the benefit of food and/or drink. The colostrums come up in 0-7 days after birthing but the quantity is not much, it only 30 ml averages in 24 hours. Although the quantity is low, but the benefit of the colostrums is incredible, One drop of the colostrums has I million antibodies which are ready for the duty as defender from any kinds of intruder such as germ, bacteria and virus.
   Another benefit of breastfeeding is mom and baby bonding. The baby who has exclusive breastfeeding is always feeling safe and comfortable because the baby always on the hands of his/her mother. The bonding between mom and the baby became tighter, from that the baby learns to trust to someone and him/herself and in the end you can expect the baby became a caring person.There are some scientific researches proof that children who had 6 months exclusive breastfeeding, has higher IQ (intelligent quotient), EQ (emotional quotient) and SQ (Spiritual quotient) compared to children who didn’t have breastfeeding.

2. The Benefit of Breastfeeding For Mom

   
   There are some benefit for moms that do the 6 months exclusive breastfeeding, such as; increasing the hormone that help reduce the bleeding after birthing because the womb immediately wane if the mother is breastfeeding her baby. Other benefit are reduced risk of breast cancer and ovaries cancer, help reduced weight after birth, reduced risk of osteoporosis, and a natural contraceptive because breastfeeding can slower the return of menses.
   

The information about breastfeeding that I have from my wife, strengthen my desire for caring my baby in natural way, because I know for sure that natural baby care has huge benefit both for the baby and the mother. For now on I will always looking for natural way of caring my baby first before I’m implementing any other way.