Breastfeeding

Maternal benefits:

  • Increased weight loss after pregnancy 

  • May decrease your response to stress

  • Decreased risk for both breast and ovarian cancer

  • It appears that there is a decreased risk of heart disease in women who breast feed

  • Saves money, formula is estimated to cost about $1000 per year

  • Breast fed babies have a decreased risk of sickness, which result in fewer clinic visits and or hospitalizations

Infant benefits:

  • It is easier to digest breast milk than formula

  • Provides protection from various illnesses until the baby can be fully immunized

  • Decreased risk of lung diseases

  • Decreased risk of ear infections

  • There are potential long term benefits after you are done breast feeding. These benefits include a decreased risk of obesity, heart disease, allergies, type one diabetes, and bowel disease and childhood cancers

Resources:

 La Leche League International (http://www.lli.org)

 http://www.breast feeding.com

 http://www.aap.org