Once the importance of the benefits of ASI (breast milk), the government made regulations about Exclusive ASI for 6 months. This rule is contained in Government Regulation No. 33 of 2012. In the regulation, it is stated that ASI is a right that must be obtained by infants.
Compared to formula milk (milk), breast milk is still the best food for babies. Besides being easily digested, breast milk is also produced naturally by the body and has important nutritional content for baby's growth and development. In fact, the first milk that comes out (colostrum) is believed to contain antibodies and immunoglobin which can increase the baby's immune system.
Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding for Babies
The following are the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for babies that need to be known:
1. Nutrition Sources
Breastfeeding is believed to be sufficient for all the nutritional needs of your child, especially in the first month of life (0-6 months). Therefore, supplementation of milk or additional food before the age of 6 months is not required. Little digestive enzymes are also not perfect, so he is not ready to digest food or other drinks besides breast milk.
2. Helps Growth and Development
A study in Korea found that the cognitive development of babies given breast milk tends to be better than those who do not. This is also evidenced by other studies that found the influence of breastfeeding with a person's intelligence level.
3. Increase Endurance
In addition to colostrum, breast milk content can also increase endurance. The content is lactoferin and IgA which serves to protect babies from germ infections, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Benefits of Exclusive ASI for Mothers
Exclusive breastfeeding is not only beneficial for babies, but also for mothers. Here are the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for mothers who need to know:
1. Strengthen Mother and Child Relationship
When breastfeeding, the mother will come into contact with your baby and look at each other. This moment can strengthen the relationship between mother and little one. In fact, several studies say that breastfeeding can have a positive impact on the psychological mother, including providing inner peace.
2. Speed up recovery after delivery
A study found that breastfeeding can accelerate recovery after delivery. This is because when breastfeeding, the body will produce the hormone oxytocin. This hormone can help milk production and uterine contractions, so that makes the mother more relaxed after childbirth.
3. Natural contraception
Breastfeeding is believed to suppress the process of ovulation, which is the process of egg maturation that can cause pregnancy. The reason is because prolactin, a hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk will inhibit FSH (follicel stimulating hormone) which plays a role in releasing eggs. This condition results in the absence of a fertilized egg, thus preventing pregnancy. Even so, breast milk can be a natural contraceptive if given exclusively, which is for 6 months without the addition of milk or other additional food.
4. Practical and Economical
It's no secret that breast milk is a practical and economical source of nutrition. The reason is because breast milk is produced naturally by the body, so the mother does not need to pay to get it. This benefit is also increasingly felt if the mother continues breastfeeding until Little is 2 years old.
That is the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for mothers and little ones
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