It has been a wisdom passed from one generation of mothers to the next and even as the pace of the world continues to quicken and more moms are juggling careers with their home life, breastfeeding is still acclaimed as one of the best choices a mom can make for her kid. One can only wonder what the benefits are of such a tender act.

Benefits for the Mom

• Helps in losing pregnancy weight

It's common to gain weight during the pregnancy. You crave a lot of different foods; your hormones spike up and down; and you have limited physical activity. Breastfeeding helps you get back to you pre-pregnancy body because it burns calories and releases oxytocin which brings your uterus back to its old size.

• Time to bond with your baby

As previously mentioned, your body releases oxytocin which is also responsible for developing one's maternal instinct. Outside of hormones though, most moms would agree that feeding their child gives them a sense of connectedness especially for moms who would soon have to go back to work.

• May prevent cancer and osteoporosis

Many studies suggest that breastfeeding lessens the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It further claims that breastfeeding longer, at least 4 to 12 months, will reduce cancer possibility by 11%.

Research also shows that moms who breastfeed are four times less likely to develop osteoporosis later on in life than those who don't.

Benefits for the Baby

• Breastmilk is healthier.

It's a widely accepted fact, even the World Health Organization agrees that breastmilk is superior to any formula available in the market, no matter how pricey that alternative is. It's nature's perfect mix of vitamins, minerals, protein and fat, all blended in an easy to process formulation so your child gets the most out of it.

• They grow up smarter, stronger, and happier.

A lot of moms secretly or not so secretly hope that their baby will grow to be smart and successful. Well, breastfeeding is the first advantage you could give them. Research shows that there's a strong correlation between a child's intellect, measured by his IQ score, and being breastfed as a baby. They also appear to be more well-adjusted which is attributed to the fact that they cope better physically and emotionally.

Breastfed babies are also less prone to obesity, diabetes and different types of cancer later on in life, even when they're not protected by the antibodies they get from your milk anymore.

Lastly, the skin-to-skin contact at an early age makes them feel secured and that reassures them of the bond your two have. This translates to how he is with himself and others later on in life.