• Helping the body and brain grow and develop.
  
• Digesting easily because it produces loose bowel movements that baby can easily pass.
  
• Helping baby develop an intimate relationship with mother.

A mother can also benefit greatly from breast-feeding her child. Immediately, breast feeding benefits the mother by helping her uterus shrink after delivery by releasing a hormone called oxytocin.

Post partum weight loss is another advantage of breast-feeding. Because breast-feeding uses up calories, it often helps the mother lose some of the extra pounds she gained during her pregnancy.

Other advantages of breast-feeding for the mother include:

• Convenience - Breast milk is always available no matter where you are. It will be at the right temperature and ready for consumption whenever your baby is hungry.
  
• Protection Against Disease - It is less likely that a woman who breast-feeds will get breast cancer before menopause.
  
• Birth Control - Breast-feeding can work as a form of birth control during the first months after delivery if you are feeding your baby nothing but breast milk and your menstrual period has not resumed. However, there is still a risk you could become pregnant while breast-feeding. Using another form of birth control is always an option.

When considering whether to breast-feed, always remember that if you begin by breast-feeding your newborn you can always switch to the bottle if it doesn't work out. However, it is almost impossible to switch to breast-feeding after a few weeks if you begin bottle-feeding your newborn.

Breast-feeding should be an enjoyable experience for mother and baby, suggests Boys Town Pediatrics. If for any reason the process is too stressful for you or your child, don't beat yourself up about switching to the bottle. With love and proper nourishment, whether it comes from the breast or bottle, your child will be strong, happy, and healthy.