Breastfeeding is something that many people know has numerous benefits, yet still find it difficult to achieve or maintain. Because it's exhausting! Even for new mothers who stay home full-time to care for their babies, formula feeding is far more convenient than breastfeeding.
However, a recent study may make many young mothers want to breastfeed again.
Can breastfeeding really help you lose waist size?
At first glance, it sounds like a misleading advertisement from a beauty salon, but this conclusion was reached by researchers through extensive data analysis and long-term follow-up.
A recent study published in Women's Health magazine found that women who breastfed for more than six months had smaller waistlines than women who never breastfed or breastfed for less than six months. Researchers also pointed out that the latter were more prone to central obesity.
In the survey, women with a waist circumference of less than 88cm breastfed for an average of 6.4 months. However, women with a larger waist circumference, exceeding 88cm, breastfed for an average of only 3.9 months.
The biggest obstacle to breastfeeding is insufficient milk supply ?
Hearing about a slim waist, are you a little tempted? Then let's talk about the most common problem encountered in breastfeeding – insufficient milk supply.
According to obstetricians and gynecologists, if possible, mothers should start breastfeeding their babies about half an hour after delivery. Timely suckling helps stimulate the release of prolactin in the mother, which is beneficial for subsequent milk production. It's important to note that some mothers think they shouldn't breastfeed when they don't have enough milk, hoping to save up later. This is a misconception; it will only reduce milk supply, as the baby's suckling stimulates the milk ejection reflex. If breastfeeding is stopped for an extended period, the brain may interpret it as the baby no longer needing milk, thus decreasing milk production.
In other words, regardless of whether there is breast milk or not, just keep feeding.
In addition, it's important to understand what "insufficient milk supply" means. A lack of breast engorgement or low milk production does not necessarily equate to "insufficient milk supply."
Breast engorgement is mainly caused by blood stasis, not by milk production. Therefore, the amount of milk available is not directly related to whether the breasts are engorged. As long as milk leaks out when you squeeze the nipple with your fingers, it indicates that there is no major problem.
It's important to know that newborns have very small appetites. A newborn on their first day only needs about 7mL of colostrum. Even a one-week-old baby only needs about 65mL of milk. Breast milk, especially colostrum, contains many substances beneficial to the baby's development. Therefore, there's no need to worry about insufficient milk supply too early. Breastfeeding is the preferred option. If you are truly concerned, consult a gynecologist and consider formula supplementation.
In short, breastfeeding requires just as much preparation as formula feeding. New mothers should learn about breastfeeding beforehand and avoid blindly supplementing their diet to prevent other health problems.
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