All of us know that breastfeeding a baby at least for the first six months of her/his life is most crucial and important thing for a mom to do. A mother’s breast milk is tailored specially to suit her baby’s needs. It contains antibodies that can help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria.

But benefits of breastfeeding are not limited to just for that period of time, it helps a child much later in life, too! It can help children avoid a lot of diseases that strike later in life, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and inflammatory bowel disease and high blood pressure! Now, why would you want to increase the risk of your child being sick by not breastfeeding? Among other perks are a developing a better understanding and bond with your baby, a better recovery for the mommy and it’s easier than other methods!

Now, in spite of all these benefits, not all moms get to breastfeed their babies as much as they’d like or as much as they should. The ease and convenience in breastfeeding is not created just by the mom, but also by those who surround her. Right from supporting her choice to breastfeed to doing things that help a mom rest, it’s her family and friends who also play an important role in ensuring her baby’s healthy future through breastfeeding.

Not everyone supports this method, moreover in public places. Encouraging her and helping her get more time off from her chores and daily responsibilities can be super helpful for a new mommy. If she is consumed with her work and what’s expected of her, she might not have the time and energy to do what’s best for her baby. The realisation kind of hit me when I saw the Nestle video. Every little story in it is relatable in every which way. When I look back, I’m sure I would have been better off with a good support system. And now, I’m sure I will be also be more sensitive going forward.

Friends and family can support a breastfeeding mommy by encouraging her, helping her eat healthy, helping her rest, giving useful advice and sometimes not, and just being her sounding board and confidante for any inhibitions and doubts and things she might have her on mind. These might sound like simple things, but they go a long way in making a breastfeeding mommy feel cared for.

Like they say it takes a village to raise a child.

**Disclaimer: I only link to products and services that I personally use and like from reputed brands. All opinions expressed are my own.**