Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice — it is the ideal way to nurture both your baby and yourself. The first few weeks can be challenging, and sometimes new mothers give up before they, and their babies, can experience the benefits. Knowing the breastfeeding benefits can keep you motivated and increase your chances of success.

Benefits for Baby

Perfect Food:

• Breastmilk is more easily digested and provides the essential nutrients, vitamins, proteins, fats and antibodies, in just the right proportions that the baby needs to develop physically and neurologically. Breastfeeding may reduce your child's risk of obesity and uterine cancer in women who breastfeed.
• Breastmilk will also change its composition to meet your baby's needs as they get older or if your baby is sick.
• Breastmilk is made of live cells and is easily absorbed by your baby.

Healthy Baby:

• Breastfed babies are healthier! They get sick less and have a lower risk of allergies.
  (cite note)
  (Wiggins, PK , Dettwyler, KA" Breastfeeding: A Mother's Gift", July 1, 1998 ed., Chapter 1, L.A. Publishing Co. Saarinen UM, Kajossari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years old." Lancet. 1995;346:1065-1069 )
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states in its 2005 Policy Statement on Breastfeeding that "breastfeeding ensures the best possible health as well as the best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant."
  
  (cite note)
  (Gartner LM, Morton J, Lawrence RA, et al. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics 2005;115(2):496-506)
• Breastfed babies have a lower incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
  (cite note)
  (Gartner LM, Morton J, Lawrence RA, et al. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics 2005;115(2):496-506)
• Breastfed babies have a reduced risk for ear infections (otitis media) and gastroenteritis.
  (cite note)
  (Scariati PD, Grummer-Strawn LM, Fein SB. A longtitudinal analysis of infant morbidity and the extent of breastfeeding in the United States. Pediatrics. 1997;99(6):E5.)
• Research also shows that breastfeeding leads to optimal brain development.
  (cite note)
  (Jensen RG. Lipids in Human Milk. Lipids. 1999;34(12):1243-1271)
• Breastmilk helps strengthen and develop a baby's immature immune system in a way no other substance can.
  (cite note)
  (Goldman AS. The immune system of human milk: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1993;12(8):664-672)
• According to the US Department of Health and Human Services' National Women's Health Information Center, breastfed babies respond better to immunizations against polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and Haemophilus influenzae than formula-fed babies.
  (cite note)
  (Han-Zoric, M., "Antibody responses to parenteral and oral vaccines are impaired by conventional and low protein formulas as compared to breastfeeding." Acta Paediatr Scand 1990; 79:1137-42)
• Breastfeeding contributes to optimal oral development and decreases the risk of tooth decay.
  (cite note)
  (Aaltonen AS and Tenovuo J. Association between mother-infant salivary contacts and caries resistance in children: a cohort study. Ped Dentistry 1994; 16(2):110-16. Labbok, M.H. "Does Breastfeeding Protect against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey" American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987 )
• Breastfeeding effectively protects against respiratory infections including those caused by rotaviruses. Studies have shown breastfed babies are less likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia or bronchiolitis, and have a decreased risk of lower respiratory tract.
  (cite note)
  (Oddy, WH et al "Breast feeding and respiratory morbidity in infancy: a birth cohort study" Archives of Disease in Childhood 2003;88:224-228. Galton Bachrach et al (2003) Breastfeeding and the Risk of Hospitalization for Respiratory Disease in Infancy" Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 157:237-243)
• Breastfeeding has been associated with a slightly enhanced performance on cognitive development tests.
  (cite note)
  (Lucas A, Morley R, Cole TJ. Randomised trial of early diet in preterm babies and later intelligence quotient. BMJ. 1998;317:1481-1487. Horwood LJ, Darlow BA, Mogridge N. Breast milk feeding and cognitive ability at 7-8 years. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2001; 84:F23-F27. Horwood LJ, Fergusson DM. Breastfeeding and later cognitive and academic outcomes. Pediatrics. 1998;101(1).
• Breastfeeding may reduce your child's risk of obesity and type 1 and 2 diabetes as they grow older.
  (cite note)
  (Gillman MW, Rifas-Shiman SL, Camargo CA, Jr., et al. Risk of overweight among adolescents who were breastfed as infants. JAMA. 2001;285(19):2461-7)(Gerstein HC. Cow’s milk exposure and type 1 diabetes mellitus. A critical overview of the clinical literature. Diabetes Care. 1994;17:13-19. Kostraba JN, Cruickshanks KJ, Lawler-Heavner J, et al. Early exposure to cow's milk and solid foods in infancy, genetic disposition, and the risk of IDDM. Diabetes. 1993;42:288-295.)
• Skin-to-skin contact with mom creates a strong bond between mother and child with increased sense of security and comfort. Babies thrive physically and emotionally by being in close contact with their mother.
  (cite note)
  (Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: "Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland." Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30)
• Breastfed babies have a greater sense of taste and smell because breastmilk changes flavor based on the mother's diet.

Benefits for Mom

• Breastfeeding decreases a mother's risk of developing breast cancer. In addition, studies show that breastfeeding may decrease ovarian cancer and uterine cancer in women who breastfeed.
  (cite note)
  (Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al. Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 1994;330:81-87. Jernstorm, H et al "Breast-feeding and the risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers." J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96:1094-1098)(Rosenblatt KA, Thomas DB. Lactation and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid contraceptives. In J Epidemiol. 1993;22:192-197)
• Breastfeeding mothers may have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers say breastfeeding may change a mother's metabolism in ways that make the possible connection plausible.
  (cite note)
  (Stuebe AM, MD; Rich-Edwards J, Willett W, Manson J, Michels K. Duration of Lactation and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes. JAMA. 2005;294:2601-2610)
• Studies show that breastfeeding mothers show less postpartum depression than do formula-feeding mothers because breastfeeding triggers and releases oxytocin (sometimes called the "love hormone") and prolactin that can help you relax and feel less stressed.
  (cite note)
  (Mezzacappa ES. Breastfeeding and maternal stress response and health (Review). Nutr Rev. 2004 Jul;62(7 Pt 1):261-8)
• As a nursing mother, you will burn extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds put on during pregnancy. Breastfeeding will help you get back to your pre-pregnancy weight faster.
  (cite note)
  (Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen LA. Maternal weight-loss patterns during prolonged lactation. Am J Clin Nutr. 1993;58:162-166)
• Breastfeeding helps your uterus to go back to its normal size and will lessen the bleeding you may have after giving birth.
  (cite note)
  (Chua S, Arukumaran S, Lim I, Selamat N, Ratnam SS. Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on uterine activity. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1994;101:804-805)
• Breastfeeding saves time. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula, and there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night. As a matter of fact, breastfeeding is always mixed properly, always the right temperature and you never forget to bring it with you!
• Breastmilk is free! Even if a baby is drinking expressed breastmilk and you need to purchase an electric breast pump, a good pump and feeding accessories are far less expensive than what you would spend on formula over the long term. (The average non-nursing mother can spend over $3,000 a year on formula, while a quality electric breast pump costs under $200.)
  (cite note)
  (Weimer J. The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding: A Review and Analysis. Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. 13. Washington, DC: Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, USDA; 2001.)
• Breastmilk is environmentally friendly. It produces no waste, no packaging and no pollution.