Why Breastfeed Your Baby Longer

Author: Dr.Twert

A few weeks ago we explained the recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding to six months. From that time until the milk should remain the main food supplementation with other nutrients. At 12 months, breast milk remains a unique food in the diet of children and therefore the recommendation of the WHO and the majority of associations and organizations related to health is to continue breastfeeding up to two years or more or until the mother and child wish.

There is little scientific information on breastfeeding in the age between 12 and 24 months and beyond as few children arriving at these ages were breastfed, but available information indicates that even after two years of age Breast milk is still an excellent supply of calories and nutrients.

The period between birth and two years of age is vital for development, growth and health of a person. Then explain why it is not recommended to delete the breast milk during this critical period.

Breast milk remains the best food

• Breast milk has a relatively high fat content compared to most of complementary foods. Is a key source of energy and essential fatty acids, which have a direct relationship with the children's brain development and remains the most complete food from a nutritional standpoint.
• Breast milk adapts to the child's age that decision. This means that as the child grows milk provides more calories.

Provides psychological benefits and better cognitive development

• Several studies have described and the many psychological benefits of breast-fed infants. Breastfeeding provides food, comfort, affection, communication between mother and child, contact and transfer of oxytocin (the hormone of love) from mother to child (and increase it in the mother).
• Despite the many popular prejudices about breastfeeding older children (although perhaps we should define what is an older child, as there are people who believe breastfeeding is old for a 4 months and there are others for which it is not until after 12-15 months), there is no evidence linking breastfeeding with emotional problems or social maladjustment.

The longer breastfeeding, greater benefits for the mother

• We've talked in Babies and more of the many benefits of breastfeeding for the mother. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the greater the benefits.
• Demand feeding delayed menstruation in many women. Iron requirements in the maternal diet reduce by half. This makes also the timing of fertility is delayed.
• Reduces the risk of osteoporotic fractures in old age. The cause is unknown but has been shown in studies with older people that women who breastfeed longer were currently suffer fewer fractures.
• Reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. For each 12-month increase in the average duration of breastfeeding in the populations of developed countries could prevent more than 50,000 cases of cancer. This equates to a 4.6% decrease in risk for a woman for every 12-month breast-feeding.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/why-breastfeed-your-baby-longer-4260371.html
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You may be interested in reading Breast Firming Serum and Natural Breast Enlargement. If you want read more How to Breastfeed