Why Is Breastfeeding Best?
Compelling reasons you should breastfeed your baby
Best for Baby:
- Research shows that breast fed infants have fewer and shorter episodes of illness.
- Breastfeeding is the most natural and nutritious way to encourage your baby’s optimal
development.
- Colostrum (the first milk) is a gentle, natural laxative that helps clear baby’s intestine,
decreasing the chance for jaundice to occur.
- The superior nutrition provided by breast milk benefits your baby’s IQ.
- Breastfeeding is a gentle way for newborns to transition to the world outside the womb.
- The skin-to-skin contact encouraged by breastfeeding offers babies greater emotional
security and enhances bonding.
- The activity of sucking at the breast enhances development of baby’s oral muscles, facial
bones, and aids in optimal dental development.
- Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of obesity and hypertension.
- Breastfeeding delays the onset of hereditary allergic disease, and lowers the risk of
developing allergic disease.
- Breastfeeding helps the baby’s immune system mature, protecting the baby in the
meantime from viral, bacteria, and parasitic infections.
- Breastfeeding increases the effectiveness of immunizations, increasing the protection
against polio, tetanus, and diphtheria vaccines.
- Breastfeeding protects against developing chronic diseases such as: celiac disease,
inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and childhood cancers.
- The benefits of breastfeeding appear to last even after the baby has been weaned
Babies Are Blessings
Benefits
Best for Mother:
- Research shows that breastfeeding benefits the health of mothers.
- Breast milk is always fresh, perfectly clean, just the right temperature, and is the
healthy choice at the least cost!
- Increased levels of oxytocin stimulate postpartum uterine contractions, minimizing blood
loss and encouraging rapid uterine toning.
- From 3 months to 12 months postpartum, breastfeeding increases the rate of weight
loss in most nursing mothers.
- Breastfeeding offers some protection against the early return of fertility.
- Because breast fed babies are healthier, their mothers miss less work and spend less
time and money on pediatric care.
- Breastfeeding women report psychological benefits such as increased self-confidence
and a stronger sense of connection with their babies.