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The Comprehensive
Benefits of Breastfeeding
 The
benefits of breastfeeding your baby are varied and numerous. The
important thing to remember is that even if you are able to breastfeed
for only a short time, your baby will experience numerous benefits
from breast milk. Here are many of the benefits of breastfeeding
for a baby, the mother, and others.
Health Benefits for Baby
Health Benefits for Mom
Emotional Benefits
Societal Benefits
| 6 Hints for Getting
Breastfeeding Off To a Good Start |
| Breastfeed as soon as possible
after birth, ideally within the first 2 hours. |
| Keep your baby with you; ask your
hospital about rooming-in. |
| Breastfeed “on demand”
– any time your baby seems hungry. |
| Breastfeed often, without a time
limit (8-12 times in 24 hours) |
| Avoid breast milk substitutes
or a pacifier until your milk supply is well established.
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| Ask for help whenever you need
it! |
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Health 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 breast milk alternatives.
- Breast milk contains antibodies,
which help protect infants from illness. Breastfed babies are
more able to fight off infection and disease, are sick less often,
and require fewer visits to health care providers.
- When you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize.
Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile.
Health Benefits for Mom
- Some of the normal weight gain during pregnancy is done to
lay down fat stores for nursing. Nursing uses up those calories,
making it easier to lose the weight you put on during 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 cancer and may lower
the risk of ovarian cancer.
Other Benefits for Baby and Mom
Convenience
- Breastfeeding saves time and money.
- A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction.
- Breastfeeding requires you to take some quiet relaxed time
for yourself and your baby.
Emotional Benefits
- Breastfeeding can help you to bond with your baby. Physical
contact is important to a newborn and can help them feel more
secure, and warm and comforted.
Societal Benefits
- Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully
breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants. This is because
breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions,
and hospitalizations.
- Employers benefit because breastfeeding mothers do not miss
as much worktime caring for sick babies. Employer medical costs
are also lower and employee productivity is higher.
- Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is
less waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle
supplies.
Sources: www.4women.gov/breastfeeding
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