Breastfeeding is a special bond between a mother and her baby shared during the first few months or years of their child’s life.

While it can be a challenging task for new mothers, who sometimes experience sore breasts and nipples, especially if they do not position the baby correctly.

It is recommended that you hold your baby ‘tummy to tummy’ to reduce the space between your body and the baby. Also, ensure the baby opens his/her mouth wide enough to take the nipple and the areola out of his/her mouth.

A new mom can support her breast with her hand during breastfeeding sessions. Place your fingers behind the areola, and be careful not to press inward on your chest.

Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their babies for at least six months, then introduce solid foods while still breastfeeding up to the age of one or two.

Breast milk has several nutritional benefits for babies, including aiding in the development of the intestines, stomach, and other parts of their body.

Here are some of the known health benefits of breastfeeding:

• Breast milk is a superfood that provides babies with nutrients, calories and fluids needed for the development.
• Breast milk contains antibodies which helps babies fight diseases
• Breastfed babies are said to have less digestive, lung and ear infection
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of sudden infant death (SID)
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of babies developing asthma and skin problems related to allergies
• Research are shown that children who were breastfed has less long-term problems as such as diabetes and obesity
• Babies who are born premature who are breastfed are less likely to develop serious infection of the intestines