Have you ever heard after your baby turns six months old breastfeeding is no longer important or beneficial? Because if so, that’s completely FALSE. Breastfeeding is incredibly beneficial for as long as you and your baby mutually wish to do so. And the benefits truly get even better as your baby gets older. In this post, we’ll go over the benefits of breastfeeding after 6 months for both mom and baby!
Benefits of Breastfeeding After 6 Months
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusively breastfeeding your baby for the first six months with complementary foods introduced around six months of age. The AAP supports and recommends continued breastfeeding until two years of age or beyond, as mutually desired by mom and baby. The AAP recently updated its guidelines to support breastfeeding beyond the first year of life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends children be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life with nutritious complementary foods added after six months and continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years and beyond.
Let’s talk more about why these health organizations are recommending breastfeeding for at least two years!
Benefits for Mom
Did you know there are benefits for the breastfeeding mother as well? Many people only think of the benefits of breast milk, but there is actually much more to it!
Reduced Risk of Disease
This has to be one of the most incredible benefits to breastfeeding mothers. According to a recent study in 2020, longer breastfeeding time was associated with reduced risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding not only lowers the risk of breast cancer, the longer you breastfeed the more the risk is reduced.
Breastfeeding may even be linked to a lower risk of uterine cancer (endometrial cancer). A longer average duration of breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of endometrial cancer, although this effect seemed to level off around 6-9 months. This just further proves that breastfeeding past 6 months is beneficial!
It’s also possible that breastfeeding can provide you with long-term protection against several other diseases. Women who breastfeed have a lower risk for:
- High blood pressure
- Arthritis
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Osteoporosis
The health benefits for a breastfeeding mother are pretty extraordinary!
May prevent menstruation
Continued breastfeeding may cause delayed ovulation and menstruation. This can be a nice surprise and break when breastfeeding your little one. However, if you’re planning for more kids in the near future, this may not feel as beneficial for you.
Convenience
Breast milk is always right there with you and at the perfect temperature for your baby. If you are able to nurse, you don’t have to worry about bottles or safely storing milk when out and about.
Increased Physical/Emotional Bonding
Breastfeeding promotes more skin-to-skin contact and holding between mother and baby. Breastfeeding also releases the hormones oxytocin and prolactin, which can promote stress reduction and positive, happy feelings in a mother. These benefits continue even after your baby turns six months of age.
Benefits for Baby
There are so many amazing benefits for breastfed babies! From birth to six months of age, to two years and beyond, the health benefits of breast milk are unmatched. The amount of breast milk you provide to your baby is beneficial, no matter the time limit.
Ideal Nutrition
Your breast milk is specifically designed for your baby. Your body knows when your baby needs more fat, more antibodies, when your baby is going through a growth spurt, etc. It’s quite extraordinary how your milk composition can change day-to-day for your baby.
Reduced Risk of Allergies
Breastfeeding is linked to a reduced risk of allergic diseases such as eczema, food allergies, and asthma.
Lower Rates of Respiratory and gastrointestinal Illness
A study followed children from birth throughout childhood and determined that breastfeeding can be protective against multiple respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections.
Protection Against Middle Ear Infections
According to research, breastfeeding may protect against ear, throat, and sinus infections well beyond infancy. Breastfeeding past six months has been shown to provide babies protection from ear infections even throughout their childhood and beyond.
Greater Immunity to Infection
When your baby nurses, they cause what is called retrograde milk flow. Retrograde milk flow occurs when your baby’s saliva gets sucked back into the milk ducts. This sort of “backwash” tells your mammary glands about any bacteria or viruses your baby has been exposed to. This causes your breast milk composition to change to produce antibodies for your baby to help fight the illness. Your breast milk becomes medicine for your baby!
If a mother is exposed to an illness, she will also create antibodies that will be passed through her breast milk to her baby. So before the baby may even become exposed, they are already receiving antibodies. Which may help baby to prevent getting the illness altogether or reduce the severity of their symptoms.
Reduced Risk of SIDS
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that evidence shows that human milk reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding for at least two months could cut the risk of SIDS in half according to the AAP. And the benefits only go up with a longer duration of breastfeeding.
Lower Risk of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
The science behind why breast milk lowers the risk of diabetes is quite amazing. But research has shown that breastfeeding in infancy is associated with a reduced risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Less LikeliHood of Becoming Obese Later in Childhood
Interestingly, breast milk is linked to a significant reduction in the chances of your baby becoming overweight or obese later in life. This is due to the development of a beneficial gut bacteria which may affect fat storage.
Unlike formula-fed babies, breastfed babies also self-regulate their milk intake at the breast. They’re a bit better at eating until their hunger is satisfied due to the work of breastfeeding to retrieve the milk. This helps them develop healthy eating patterns early.
Reduced Risk of Crohn’s disease and Colitis
Breastfed babies may be less likely to develop gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Reduced Risk of Childhood Leukemia
A meta-analysis of studies showed that breastfeeding for six months or greater was associated with a 20% lower risk for childhood leukemia.
Benefits By Month
9 Months
Breast milk continues to provide optimal nutrition for your baby. Most babies still will not be fully into solid foods at this age, so breast milk will continue to provide everything your baby needs.
Breastfeeding will comfort your baby through developmental spurts, growth spurts, teething, and more.
12 Months
Breastfeeding for one full year comes with so many benefits. For your baby, the health benefits include a reduced risk of obesity and heart disease as an adult.
Breastfeeding for one year also further reduces the breastfeeding mother’s risk for many cancers and other diseases.
18 Months and Beyond
The health benefits that will last a lifetime only go up from here for both mom and baby. Research has shown the longer you breastfeed, the lower risk you are for all of the cancers and diseases we discussed above.
Continued breastfeeding is also so beneficial when your little one becomes ill. Breastfeeding is a source of hydration to help if your little one isn’t up for eating or drinking when they don’t feel well. Plus the antibodies in your breast milk will continue to support your baby’s immune system.
Takeaway
One saying that kept me going through many difficult times during breastfeeding was “never quit on a hard day”. Breastfeeding may be natural, but that does not mean it’s easy! However, as you can see, the benefits that come from breastfeeding and the longer you do it, are pretty incredible!
Set a goal for yourself that you want to reach for how long you’d like to breastfeed. Once you reach that goal, evaluate how you’re feeling. Could you happily go longer? Or is it becoming too much mentally and physically? Always reach out to a lactation consultant or your health care professionals if you’re struggling!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is breastfeeding after 6 months beneficial?
Yes! So many amazing health benefits for you and your baby after 6 months! The benefits do not stop just because your baby turns six months old. Or 1, or 2, and so on.
What happens when you stop breastfeeding at six months?
This is completely a personal decision. However, if you choose to stop breastfeeding at six months there are a few things you will need to consider! You’ll want to make sure you wean slowly to prevent engorgement and possible blocked milk ducts or mastitis.
You also may need to wean slowly for your baby, who may have a difficult time emotionally. As well as give an adjustment period for their digestive system and immune system to cope with the change to formula milk.
The benefits of breastfeeding after 6 months only grow. But if you have to stop at 6 months you should be proud of all you have provided your baby!
Is breastfeeding for 3 months good enough?
First of all, if you’ve made it to breastfeeding for 3 months, congratulations! That is definitely a huge accomplishment that should be celebrated.
There are of course more benefits the longer you breastfeed your baby. However, any breast milk you can give your baby is enough!
After 3 months, your baby has already been given so many benefits to their immune system and possibly even lower their risk for developing diseases like asthma.
Are there any disadvantages of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months?
In terms of health benefits, there are no disadvantages to exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.
However, there may be other disadvantages such as a lack of freedom for the breastfeeding mother. If you are not giving baby any bottles at all (exclusively nursing), the mother needs to be available to breastfeed on demand whenever their baby wants to nurse. This can definitely be a privilege for mothers who have the resources and support to exclusively nurse for six full months.
Breastfeeding is still beneficial even if you’re not exclusively nursing! So if you’re pumping breast milk and giving it to your baby in a bottle, there are still many benefits of breastfeeding after 6 months.
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