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Breastfeeding: The benefits for you and your baby

Breastmilk offers a complete form of nutrition that contains anti-infection and anti-inflammatory properties. Breastmilk also confers passive immunity on to your baby as the antibodies contained in the breastmilk pass on some of the mother’s immunity. This then helps to protect the child from infection and allergies.

It’s been shown in numerous studies that exclusively breastfed babies have better outcomes in cognitive development, visual focusing, development of the mouth and tongue and later neurological development.

It’s also been shown that children who are not breastfed have a higher incidence and severity of illnesses such as: diarrhoea, respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, ear infections, obesity, chronic respiratory diseases and even childhood cancer.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding gives babies the best start in life, but some mothers don’t find it easy. Connecting with other mums on the same journey encourages, motivates and even inspires us as parents. Mumslikeus is a community of breastfeeding mums offering information, real life stories, videos and interactive tools to help you along your journey.

Mumslikeus is an Aptamil initiative to support and encourage breastfeeding in Ireland. As Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, we strongly feel this is part of our social and environmental responsibility.

We have created this online community to assist you on every stage of your breastfeeding journey. You can even receive emails summarising what to expect at particular stages of your journey so you are prepared and fully supported.

The health benefits of breastfeeding for you

When you breastfeed you’re giving protection to both yourself and your baby. Research shows that mothers who breastfeed their babies have a decreased risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding mums also tend to regain their pregnancy figure quickly because their uterus contracts faster. So what’s best for baby will also be best for Mum.