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BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
There are many benefits to breastfeeding. Even if you are able to do it for
only a short time, your baby's immune system can benefit from breast milk. Here
are many other benefits of breast milk for a mother, her baby, and others:
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. |
| As a result, breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend
to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being
less overweight later in life. |
| Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who
are fed formula. |
| 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, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with
formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles.
(However, you should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control
choices.) |
| Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly
the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause. |
| 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.
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| Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of
closeness and bonding with their infants. |
BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY:
| Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the
nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants
since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions,
and hospitalizations. |
| Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding
mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often. Employer medical
costs also are lower and employee productivity is higher. |
| Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash
and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle
supplies |
Health Risks of Not Breastfeeding
| Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) in it to help protect infants
from bacteria and viruses. Recent studies show that babies who are not
exclusively breastfed for 6 months are more likely to develop a wide range of
infectious diseases including ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses
and have more hospitalizations. Also, infants who are not breastfed have a 21%
higher postneonatal infant mortality rate in the U.S. |
| Some studies suggest that infants who are not breastfed have higher rates
of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the first year of life, and higher
rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease,
overweight and obesity, high cholesterol and asthma. More research in these
areas is needed (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005). |
| Babies who are not breastfed are sick more often and have more doctor's
visits. |
| Also, when you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize.
Unlike human milk straight from the breast, infant formula has a chance of
being contaminated. |
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