BENEFITS FOR BABY:
- Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A
mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and
protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Most
babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.
- The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant's
individual growth and changing nutritional needs
- The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful
bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into
baby's blood
- Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
- Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
- Reduced risk of childhood diabetes
- Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia,
bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning)
- Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic
disease
- Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal
that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed
- Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature
babies who are fed formula.
- Less risk of childhood obesity
- Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies
who were born pre-maturely.
BENEFITS FOR MOM:
- Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of
pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and
lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
- Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and
possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
- Reduced risk of anemia
- Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has
been associated with total time of lactation
- Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child
- Breastfed babies are sick less thus reducing healthcare costs to family
in doctor office visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine
purchases, and hospitalizations
- Moms miss less time off from work due to child related illnesses
- Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do
not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles
to warm in the middle of the night!
- A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her
breast milk when her baby is hungry.
- Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for
herself and her baby.
- Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical
contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure,
warm and comforted.
- Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and
feelings of closeness and bonding with their infants.
Read more about the benefits of breastfeeding from the US
Breastfeeding Committee
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