Pros and cons of breastfeeding at different ages by Geraldine Miskin The Baby Show Breastfeeding Specialist
1 day
Baby
Your baby gets colostrum, which is perfectly designed to provide all the nutrients, and immune boosting properties that he needs. The closeness of breastfeeding helps your baby feel secure in new and unfamiliar surroundings.
Mum
Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract quickly to reduce the risk of a post birth haemorrhage. You’re amazed and excited to be able to breastfeed.
Cons
It can be stressful, feeds erratic as baby learns what to do. It can be painful as both you and baby are learning a new skill and need to learn about each other.
Tip
Be patient with yourself and your baby. Allow him to try to feed, keep him in skin-to-skin contact with you as much as possible to allow him to activate and put his innate feeding instincts into practice. It should become more comfortable.
1 week
Baby
His stomach has stretched in line with your increasing milk supply from the size of a malteser at birth to the size of a ping-pong ball by day 8.
Mum
Frequent feeds have primed your breasts for long-term milk production. Your breasts are full, see milk drops on the nipple at the end of the feed and your baby seems milk drunk at the end of the feed.
Cons
It’s worrying if baby loses more than 10% of his birth weight, or develops jaundice. Engorgement, which results in hard, hot, full and uncomfortable breasts, can feel scary and painful. Baby keeps you busy and awake at night.
Tip
Know that a bumpy start is normal. Feed more frequently and wake baby if you need to, do more skin to skin and offer both sides at each feed. Hot, throbbing breasts respond well to cold packs so grab something from the freezer, wrap in light muslin square and apply to breasts at each feed until you feel better.
1 month
Baby
Your baby’s immune system is growing with each feed. He is less likely to develop food allergies until age 3 years, diarrhoea, chest infections and ear infections due to the immune boosting properties of your milk.
Mum
Feeds are getting shorter and your baby may be sleeping longer stretches at night. You don’t have to wash and sterilize bottles so have more ‘free’ time between feeds.
Cons
If breastfeeding isn’t going well, you’ll be stuck to sofa all day, feel like you have failed at something that others seem to get right easily and might get heat for introducing bottle feeds.
Tip
Get help and know that any breast milk your baby gets is beneficial. Surround yourself with those who encourage and empower you and do what works for your family.
3 Months
Baby
Babies digestive system has developed and is able to cope with foreign properties more easily. Less likely to develop childhood diabetes (Type 1) by 19 and 27%. Up to 40% less likely to develop asthma in families with history.
Mum
Baby may feed for 10 minutes or less. You are more likely to start losing baby weight between month three and six.
Cons
Babies become more social and pop on and off breast frequently to survey surroundings.
Tips
Rather than seeing this as a frustration, see it as a new milestone that your baby has reached.
6 months
Baby
Baby is less likely to develop allergies to common triggers such as cows milk which makes introducing solids easier. There is also a reduced risk of him developing childhood cancers like leukaemia.
Mum
Breastfeeds are spaced out and usually only 10 minutes long. You are less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancers as well as osteoporosis.
Cons
You may worry about how much milk your baby gets in his short feeds and feel obliged to get more into him which leads to fighting at the breast.
Tips
Trust your baby to take what he needs and know that he grows at a slower rate so needs less calories than when he was young. Follow his lead.
12 months
Baby
Continues to get immune boosting properties through your milk. The muscles used for breastfeeding are also important for speech.
Mum
It’s an easy way to comfort baby when he topples over or hurts himself. You have saved a healthy sum by breastfeeding. If your baby had 90ml per feed 8 times a day, you’d buy a new tin of formula (£12) every 8 days.
Cons
You may feel touched out and want to reclaim your body.
Tips
Breastfeed for nutrients and comfort whilst encouraging your partner to spend one on one time with your little one to create some time for yourself.
18 months
Baby
Baby continues to get skin-to-skin time with you which reduces stress hormone production. His immunity continues to grow.
Mums
You get a forced break, time to sit down and catch your breath when you have a million things to do on your ‘To Do list’.
Cons
Baby can use breastfeeding to curb boredom and get your attention, usually as soon as you answer the phone.
Tips
Introduce a feeding chair, which you use for feeds. Your little person will quickly realize that when you sit in the chair, he can have a feed. Create time in for one to one play to ensure your baby gets your attention in a different way.
Over 2 years
Baby and Mum
Mums usually only feed first thing in the morning and last thing at night by this age. It is a great way to start and end the day for both involved. The little one continues to get immune boosting properties from bugs that he has encountered during the day.
Cons
It can be embarrassing when an older child announces that he wants BOOBY or constantly tugs at your shirt, wants to tweak your nipples in public.
Tips
Find a word that both you and baby know pertains to feeding. Use the feeding chair tip as above to help your little one understand when to ask for milk. Educate those around you that the human body benefits from breast milk irrespective of age.
Benefits of breastfeeding for infants
Breast milk aids brain development, eye sight
Reduced incidence of the following:
Gastroenteritis
Necrotising enterocolitis
Chest infections
Eczema
Middle ear infections and glue ear
Urinary tract infections
Sudden infant death syndrome
Leukaemia
Benefits for the adult who breastfed as a baby
Reduced incidence of the following:
Obesity
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Benefits for mums
Reduces risk of developing ovarian cancer
Reduces risk of develop breast cancer
Reduces risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Helps reset mums metabolism
Reduces risk of osteoporosis
Effective insulin production
Helps the womb return to non-pregnancy size
Acts as a contraceptive