Breastfeeding wasn’t just about feeding my baby, it helped me too,” says Emily, a new mom from Ohio.
“After giving birth, I was so tired and feeling all over the place. But when I started nursing, I felt calm and stronger, like my body was healing. It became our special quiet time.”
Emily’s story is common. Over 80 percent of moms who breastfeed say they feel better in the first six months after their baby is born.
Many don’t realize the 10 importance of breastfeeding to the mother go beyond just feeding the baby because it helps moms heal, feel calm, and bond deeply with their little one.
Holding the baby close lowers stress and gives moms a little boost, even on tough days. It’s a simple way their body says, “You’re doing great.
10 Importance of Breastfeeding to the Mother PDF
10 Importance of Breastfeeding to The Mother
Breastfeeding helps more than just your baby. It also helps you feel better and stronger. Here are 10 important reasons why breastfeeding is good for moms too.
Benefit 1: Accelerated Postpartum Recovery
After having a baby, your body needs time to heal. Breastfeeding can actually help speed up this recovery, making you feel stronger and more refreshed sooner than you might expect.
Everyday strength
Many moms notice they regain the ability to climb stairs or care for an older child sooner than they expect. That’s oxytocin and prolactin quietly helping your body reset.
Less cramping, less worry
While those first nursing sessions can feel like menstrual cramps, they’re actually your body tightening down blood vessels to stop bleeding. Most moms say the discomfort is brief compared to the relief of knowing you’re healing faster.
Checklist tip
Keep a simple journal of spotting and cramping. You’ll often see the lochia taper off in days instead of weeks, and that progress can lift your spirits on hard days.
Benefit 2: Enhanced Weight Loss & Metabolism
Many new moms want to get back in shape after childbirth. Breastfeeding can give your metabolism a helpful boost, making it easier to lose pregnancy weight naturally.
Balanced approach
Yes, you burn extra calories, about 300 to 500 a day. But under-eating can cut the milk supply. Aim for a modest surplus of about 200 calories over your pre-pregnancy needs, focusing on whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats.
Real-life story
One mom found that swapping one sugary snack a day for fruit and nuts helped her lose 5 pounds in the first month without ever feeling hungry or tired.
Tip for steady energy
Combine your feeds with a 10-minute walk or gentle stretching. It keeps your metabolism humming and gives you a break.
Benefit 3: Reduced Risk of Breast & Ovarian Cancer
Breastfeeding isn’t just nourishment. It’s protection. Each feeding lowers a mother’s lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer, offering a powerful layer of defense built right into nature’s design.
Small but meaningful
Every three months of nursing can drop your risk by one to two percent. Over a year that adds up and it’s a benefit you’ll carry for life.
Breast tissue “spring cleaning”
As milk ducts grow and shrink, old breast cells get flushed out. Think of it as a built-in maintenance cycle your body runs for free.
Practical note
Even partial breastfeeding seems to help, so any amount of nursing or pumping has value.
Benefit 4: Lowered Risk of Type 2 Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome
Breastfeeding supports more than your baby’s health. It also helps regulate your body, lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome over time.
Early wins
In the first three months, mothers often see their fasting glucose drop. That can mean fewer glucose screenings and lower anxiety at doctor visits.
Long view
Women who nurse for a year experience about a 25 percent lower diabetes risk later on.⁴ Sharing that stat can motivate moms during tough middle-of-the-night feeds.
Tip
Keep a simple log of feeds and meals. It helps both your care team and you spot patterns that support blood sugar balance.
Benefit 5: Natural Contraception via Lactational Amenorrhea
Breastfeeding can naturally delay the return of your period, giving your body time to recover while helping to space out pregnancies without any added effort.
Simple checklist
To rely on LAM, the baby must be exclusively breastfed (no bottles), under six months old, and mom must have no return of menses.
Everyday reality
Once you introduce solids or skip a nighttime feed, ovulation can sneak back. Consider pairing LAM with a barrier method until you feel ready to track your cycle again.
Spacing success
Many moms find that breastfeeding spacing makes pregnancies feel more planned and less rushed. That breathing room matters for both mom and baby.
Benefit 6: Strengthened Bone Health & Reduced Osteoporosis Risk
While your body gives a lot during breastfeeding, it also rebuilds stronger. Over time, this process can boost bone density and lower your risk of osteoporosis later in life.
Temporary dip, then rebound
It’s normal to see a slight drop in bone density by weaning. Within a year of stopping, most women gain back more bone than they started with.
Calcium buddies
Pair nursing with weight-bearing exercises like holding a baby while standing on one foot. It’s safe and helps your skeleton rebuild stronger.
Long-term payoff
Women who breastfeed 12–24 months total have up to a 12 percent lower hip-fracture rate after age 60.⁵
Benefit 7: Improved Mental Health & Lower Postpartum Depression
Breastfeeding can be a calming connection that supports emotional well-being. It may lower stress and reduce the risk of postpartum depression by helping your body release feel-good hormones.
More than hormones
It isn’t just oxytocin; the quiet moments skin-to-skin give you a chance to breathe, to slow your thoughts. That pause can be a lifeline on hard days.
Community matters
Moms who nurse in peer groups or online forums report feeling 30 percent more confident. Sharing tips and wins, even small ones, builds momentum.
Gentle reminder
If nursing feels overwhelming, ask for help. A few tweaks from a lactation consultant can turn tears into triumph.
Benefit 8: Convenience, Cost Savings & Time Efficiency
No bottles to prep, no formula to buy, and no midnight runs to the store. Breastfeeding is always ready, saving you time, money, and stress.
Beyond formula costs
Lost work time or sick days for mom can cost more than the price of formula, so the true savings often reach $2,000 a year.
On-the-go hacks
Wearable pumps let you express discreetly at your desk or in the car. Some moms schedule two 15-minute pump breaks and still take care of everything else.
Tip
Store small milk bags in a zip pouch. No special cooler needed. You’ll be surprised how long milk stays chilled with a simple ice pack.
Benefit 9: Enhanced Sleep Quality & Stress Reduction
Breastfeeding can help both you and your baby sleep more soundly. The calming hormones released during nursing promote relaxation and ease stress, making rest a little easier to come by.
Night-time magic
Baby’s melatonin peaks around 2–3 a.m., and yours follows. That shared rhythm means deeper naps, even if they’re short.
Stress relief touchpoints
A quick 2-minute cuddle before every feed can cut cortisol spikes in both of you. Try it next time and see how calm you feel.
Practical trick
Keep a low-light lamp by the nursing spot. No jarring switches means you both drift back to sleep more easily.
Benefit 10: Long-Term Cardiovascular Health
Breastfeeding supports more than early bonding. It may also protect your heart by lowering the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke later in life.
Blood pressure bonus
Nursing for a year can lower your later-life hypertension risk by about 10 percent.⁷
Heart-healthy habits
Many mothers who nurse also adopt whole-food diets. The combo of hormones and better eating sets you up for a lifetime of stronger arteries.
Family impact
When children see mom making health a priority, they carry those habits forward, so you’re shaping a heart-healthy household.
Addressing Barriers & Misconceptions
Breastfeeding can seem challenging, but many common worries and myths don’t tell the whole story. Understanding the facts helps turn obstacles into opportunities for success.
Real talk on supply
Stress and dehydration can stall milk. Drinking an extra glass of water and resting when you can often revive your flow.
Equity matters
Low-income and working-class mothers face higher hurdles, including less paid leave and fewer lactation rooms. Community centers and charities that loan pumps or host support circles make a huge difference.
Cultural shift
Every public nursing photo, every workplace policy change, nudges us closer to a world where breastfeeding feels normal and supported everywhere.
Societal & Policy Support
Strong community and workplace support help make breastfeeding easier and more sustainable. When policies protect parents, everyone benefits from healthier families and a stronger society.
Examples that work
In Sweden, new parents get 480 days of paid leave. Their breastfeeding rates at six months top 70 percent. Imagine if more countries could follow that model.
On-site lactation rooms
A quiet, clean space with a comfy chair and fridge makes pumping feel like part of the workday, not an afterthought.
Grassroots action
Local “nurse-in” events and peer-to-peer mentor programs in hospitals and community centers build confidence long before the baby arrives.
Addressing Common Misconceptions and Barriers
Many parents have questions and worries about breastfeeding. By clearing up a few common myths, we can turn those worries into confidence and real support.
Myth: “All moms can breastfeed easily.”
Breastfeeding isn’t always simple. Some babies have trouble latching on. Some moms find their milk supply slow to come in or don’t make quite enough.
Health issues like recovering from a tough birth or taking certain medications can make it even harder. It’s perfectly normal to run into bumps along the way.
Myth: “Formula is just as good.”
Formula does a good job of feeding babies, but breast milk is special. It’s full of antibodies and nutrients that help protect infants from infections and support healthy growth. No formula can match all of those natural benefits.
How to Support Breastfeeding Moms?
Moms do best when they have people cheering them on and practical help. Here are a few ways to offer that:
Professional guidance
A lactation consultant can watch a feeding, show a few simple tricks, and answer questions.
Peer support
Local and online groups let moms share tips, swap stories, and remind each other they’re not alone.
Workplace accommodations
Breaks and a private, clean space to nurse or pump make a big difference for working moms.
Family and friends
Simple offers like bringing a meal, watching the baby while mom rests, or just listening mean the world.
With clear information and a caring community, breastfeeding challenges can become stepping stones to stronger bonds and greater confidence.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding gifts mothers far more than nutrition for a baby. It helps your body heal, supports your mental health, shields you from illness, and even bolsters your career and wallet. Every feed is a small act of self-care.
If you’re expecting or nursing now, reach out: find a local support group, talk to your employer about a pumping plan, and bookmark a trusted lactation consultant. You deserve the full circle of benefits breastfeeding brings for you and your child.
Maroc Jameson is a dedicated educator with a strong commitment to enhancing learning experiences. He specializes in presenting information through concise “10 tips” formats, covering various topics such as “10 reasons to pursue a new skill” and “10 important benefits of reading.”
