WHY BREASTFEEDING IS IMPORTANT?

Breastfeed gives your body a better start in life. It sets the good foundation for digestion and immunity. It lowers the incidence of allergies -- eczema, cradle cap, allergic rhinitis -- you won't have to deal with those.

Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrients for infants. A mother's milk has just the right amount proteins, carbohydrates, fats. and vitamins needed for baby's healthy growth and development. Breast milk also contains important immunological factors that protect against infection. Breastfeeding can also help a mother to bond with her baby.

Breast milk naturally contains a combination of whey protein, casein, vitamins, fats and lactose. These substances are vital for baby’s nerve, brain and eye development. Eating certain foods can change the composition of milk and have harmful effects on growth. Good foods to eat while breastfeeding should increase nutrients in milk and not diminish them.

According to Dr. Spook's, "Breastmilk provides most of the vitamins a baby needs, but it contains very little vitamin D." So more pediatrician recommends to bring your baby out to the sunlight every morning to get vitamin D. It is recommended to bring your baby out at around 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM for at least 5-10 minutes to get a good sunlight and vitamin D for your baby. Vitamin D helps your baby's body to absorb calcium, which is needed for the healthy development of strong bones and teeth.

Benefits to the mother

• Losing Weight. Breastfeeding is the ideal way to lose weight without an exercise. It takes a lot of calories to make milk. You can burn up to 500 calories per day while you just sit and relax with your baby. According to What to Expect, "When a baby sucks on your breast, it triggers the release of oxytocin, the "feel-good" hormone that also spurs the shrinking of the uterus. And speaking of shrinking, all those extra calories your baby is draining out of you means that even though you'll be adding more calories to your diet to make milk, you won't be pilling on the pounds -- and you might start seeing that waistline of yours sooner (though not if you and more calories than you need)."
• The baby's sucking releases oxytocin, a hormone that helps the uterus shrink back to its pregnancy size. Oxytocin also causes feelings of contentment and happiness
• You will particularly appreciate the convenience if you ever have to travel. Breastfeeding take a little effort than having a formula feeding. There are no bottles and nipples to clean, to sterilize and to warm. You do not have to buy, measure, and mix formula. You can satisfy your baby's hunger right away when breastfeeding. According to What to Expect, "You can also forget about 2 a.m. trips to the kitchen for a formula refill; late-night feedings require nothing more complicated than an easy-access nightie and a cozy, sleepy snuggle with your little one. For many mothers, that physical and emotional connection (not to mention a bit of extra sleep) is the ultimate benefit of nursing."
• Breastfeeding is much more cheaper than formula.
• No bottles to buy and wash 
• No formulas to buy
• Nursing is stress-reducing rather than stress producing. The hormones released as baby suckles actually enhance relaxation.
• Some women don't menstruate as long as they continue to nurse. If a mother is not supplementing, the baby is less than six months old, and the mother is not having a period, there is only a very small chance, about 2%, that she will become pregnant, even with no contraception.
• Health Protection. Women who breastfeed have a slightly lower risk of developing uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and premenopausal breast cancer. They're also less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than women who don't breastfeed. It also lower risk of developing osteoporosis.
• Strong bound between the mother and the baby
• It boost your mood
• Breastfeeding provides one important benefit to mothers: deeper sleep. If you do not have deep and enough sleep while breastfeeding, your cortisol level, the stress hormone will rise. This will cause oxytocin, the hormone that prompts our body to release breastmilk to fall.

Benefits of Breastfeeding to Babies

• Babies receive complete nutrients and antibodies. Breastfed Babies get enough iron from their mothers until four to six months of age. It also makes baby to digest easily rather then formula. The protein in formula's milk is made on cow's milk and it takes time for your babies stomach to adjust to digesting them. It also protects your baby by fighting disease. The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protects babies from illness. Skin to skin contact between the mother and babies while breastfeeding helps premature babies pick up as much as 50% more weight. Breastfed babies may be less likely to get childhood asthma and eczema than those babies fed formula. It is also the babies may be less likely to suffer from gas and excessive spitting up if it is being breastfed. It also helps the baby to have their regular poop, breastfeeding never makes your baby constipated.
• Brainier babes: Accroding to What to Expect, "Studies show a slight but statistically significant increase in the IQ of breastfed babies compared with those fed formula. One possible reason is that breast milk contains the fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is important for brain development. Another brainy benefit of breastfeeding — all those hours of skin-on-skin contact with Mom are also great for your baby's cognitive and emotional development (in addition to just making your baby feel nurtured and safe)."
• Breast milk helps in the growth of children.
• Reduces risk of childhood diabetes
• Protects infant from gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
• Reduces risk of colic, constipation and other stomach upsets.
• Improves taste of your babies: Exclusive breast-feeding for a full six months may ironically improve our children’s taste for vegetables, whereas children fed formula grow up with increased rates of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, cancer, and diabetes.

Source:

"What to Expect." Whattoexpect. N.p., n.d.
"Foods to Eat While Breastfeeding." Panlasang Pinoy. N.p., 25 Nov. 2013. Web.