Question

Discuss the benefits and challenges of breastfeeding.

Answer 1

Breast feeding also known as nursing is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman's breast. It is very important as it has a number of benefits to both mother and children. Health organizations including World Health Organization recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months.

Benefits of breastfeeding

• Breast milk has nearly perfect mix of vitamins, proteins and fat so provides an ideal nutrition that includes every thing for a baby needs to grow
• It contains antibodies that helps to fight against viruses and bacteria
• Breastfeeding decreases the risk of risk of respiratory tract infections and diarrhea
• Also lower risks for asthma, food allergies, ear infections and type 1 diabetes
• Breastfeeding may also improve cognitive development and decrease the risk of obesity in adulthood
• Also breasted infants are likely to gain right amount of weight rather than become overweighted
• Breastfeeding also benefits the mother, helps to burn extra calories so she can lose pregnancy weight faster
• Also include less blood loss following delivery, better uterus shrinkage, and decreased postpartum depression
• It also decreases the risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid artheitis in mother

Challenges of breastfeeding

• Lower milk supply : Sometimes the mother is worried about having enough milk
• Oversupply of milk: Overfull breast make breast feeding stressful and uncomfortable for the mother and baby
• Latching Challenges: If the baby does not latch properly, it can lead to less efficient feedings that require the baby to work harder to recieve the milk.This can leads to painful, sore nipples for mom
• Breast Infection : Thrush is a fungal or yeast infection affects breast which is very painful.Matitis is an infection of the breast tissue causing fevers and pain for the mother.
• Nursing strike:This occurs when baby suddenly refuses to breastfeed after breastfeeding well for months.
• Flat or inverted nipples:Nipples can be flat, not stand out much from surrounding area.Also can be inverted, they retract or pull inward when stimulated. Both leads to frustration but momsmom can still breastfeed.
• Plugged duct : A plugged duct feels like a tender and sore lump in the breast.It is caused by a milk duct that does not drain properly.