When a woman gets pregnant, she transforms into a mother at that very moment. A bond that forms when the pregnancy test comes positive, lasts for a lifetime and through the nine months of nurturing the baby inside her womb, every stage adds to this beautiful relationship.
When the baby arrives in this world, all the pain and anxiety sort of blur out. The little face, toes, and fingers magically create a sense of maternal instinct that no other relationship can even come close to. Through the course of parenting, this relationship takes several flavors. Right from the first time the baby holds his or her mother’s fingers, to the first time they look at the mother and smile, from their first words to the first time they walk, every single activity with the baby and every single milestone keeps adding to this enriching experience.
One of the ways in which new mothers bond with their babies is through breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is the most recommended and natural way of taking care of a baby’s nutritional needs, but it goes much beyond that. Breastfeeding is more than an activity; it’s when the mother’s instincts are at the peak - when they hear the baby cry, they know it’s time for them to feed them.
Of course, apart from being an emotion and a bond between the mother and the baby, breastfeeding serves several other purposes also.
Typically, doctors recommend that a baby should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of its life. With a sensitive digestive system, babies find it easier to digest breastmilk. It is known to be one of the best sources of nutrition as well. However, as babies grow older, their nutritional needs grow too and breast milk might not be sufficient on its own.
From the age of six months, babies should be introduced to solid foods and a mother might want to begin weaning their babies off but it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding altogether. Here are a few things to keep in mind about breastfeeding after babies turn six months old.
Once babies start solids, many mothers would consider weaning. If you are confused and don’t know if you want to initiate this process, here are some reasons for you to explore.
While generally, it’s best to consider stopping breastfeeding only after the baby is six months old, you can continue feeding them till the time you and the baby are comfortable. It’s a deal between you and your baby, so do not let anyone’s opinion affect you. As a mother, you know what’s best for your baby and you would know your baby’s comfort better than anyone else.
Go by your instinct and if at all you want to wean, keep it gradual. While weaning, you might want to make more variety of solids available to your baby, encourage them to adapt to solid food more, and engage them in activities if they want to be breastfed.
At the end of the day, please understand that there is no judgment whether you breastfeed for six months, one year, more than one year or do not breastfeed at all.
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