Most people know that breastfeeding is one of the best ways to develop and improve a baby's overall health. Breastfeeding can help strengthen a baby's immune system which helps prevent infection and diseases. It can also improve a woman's health and help her lose weight.
Aside from those things, there are other surprising things about breastfeeding that mothers need to learn about. The Bump shared some of these surprising breastfeeding facts.
1. Breastfeeding is like a mini marathon
Breastfeeding is great for losing weight because it takes a lot of energy. The average metabolic energy spent in breastfeeding a baby during the day is equal to seven miles of walking.
2. Breastfeeding is instinctual for newborns.
"It's not always easy to learn, but it is instinctual," The Bump shared. "Newborns held skin-to-skin in the first hour or two after birth may push their way toward mom's breast and start feeding on their own."
3. Human milk is pricey.
Human milk is usually sold for $4 per ounce on the internet. That price is more than 260 times more expensive than oil.
First meal of her life. #normalizebreastfeeding #breastfeeding pic.twitter.com/BuRxpNAlga
— Melanie Donathan (@melsy24) March 16, 2016
4. The right breast is usually mightier.
An estimated 75 percent of mothers produce more milk in their right breast than their left breast. This statistic has nothing to do with being lefty or a righty.
5. Unique breast milk smell.
Each mom's breast milk has a distinctive smell. "Breastfed babies can practically pick their moms out of a lineup based on smell alone," The Bump explains.
6. Breast size does not matter.
Having bigger breasts does not mean you will produce more breast milk. There are many women with smaller breast size but produces more breast milk for their babies.
7. Breast implants' impact.
Is it possible for mothers with breast implants to breastfeed? "Yes, it is possible for a woman to breastfeed with implants, depending on the size and placement of implants, as well as the type of surgery," New Kids-Center shared. Breastfeeding specialists also believe that the saltwater or silicone content of certain breast implants do not mix with the breast milk.
