Dental decay (caries) is caused by bacteria that live in plaque on the teeth. A tooth is essentially a hollow piece of bone with an enamel cap. Enamel is just like glass, so when acid meets glass, the glass is etched. The same process occurs in the mouth. Bacteria eats sugar that pass through the mouth and makes acid. Acid then etches the tooth surface a little at a time until the enamel is penetrated. Thus, a cavity is formed.
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Immunity
The immunities in breast milk have been shown to increase in concentration as the baby gets older and nurses less, so older babies still receive lots of immune factors.
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Nutritional Content of Breastmilk in the Second Year
In the second year of life, 500ml of breastmilk provides: 95% of Vitamin C requirements, 45% of Vitamin A requirements,38% of protein requirements,31% of energy requirements.
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Ovarian Cancer
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.
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Weight Loss
Breastfeeding moms tend to lose weight more easily.
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Is breastfeeding during pregnancy possible?
Nursing while pregnant is very possible and not that uncommon, especially in other, less "developed" countries.
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Fertility
Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation.
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Comfort
Nursing past infancy helps babies & toddlers make a gradual transition to childhood. Breastfeeding is a warm and loving way to meet the needs of toddlers and young children. It helps to soothe the frustrations, bumps, and daily stresses of early childhood.
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Endometrial Cancer
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer.
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Diabetes
Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women.
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The WHOīs View of Extended Breastfeeding
The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond.
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Osteoperosis
Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis. During lactationm a mother may experience decreases of bone mineral. A nursing momīs bone mineral density may be reduced in the whole body by 1%-2% while she is still nursing. This is gained back, and bone mineral density may actually increase, when the baby is weaned from the breast. This is not dependent on additional calcium supplementation in the motherīs diet.
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Illness
Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers.
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More nutritional Benefits of Breastmilk in the Second Year
Breastmilk remains a valuable source of protein, fat, calcium, and vitamins well beyond two years of age.
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Social Development
One study that dealt specifically with babies nursed longer than a year showed a significant link between the duration of nursing and mothersī and teachersī ratings of social adjustment in 6-8 year old children. In the words of the researchers, "There are statistically significant tendencies for conduct disorder scores to decline with increasing duration of breastfeeding."
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Breast Cancer
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.
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What Can I Do?
One way to prevent dental caries is to brush your babyīs teeth twice a day to loosen plaque and after every nursing, wipe her teeth down with a dry cloth. If your child has a history of dental caries, then a topical fluoride can be applied.
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Intelligence
Extensive research on the relationship between cognitive achievement (IQ scores, grades in school) and breastfeeding has shown the greatest gains for those children breastfed the longest.
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Independence
Meeting a childīs dependency needs, according to that childīs unique timetable, is the key to helping that child achieve independence. Children who achieve independence at their own pace are more secure in that independence then children forced into independence prematurely.