Both babies and mothers gain many benefits from breastfeeding. Breast milk is easy to digest and contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections. Research indicates that women who breastfeed may have lower rates of certain breast and ovarian cancers. It is also recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a primary strategy to reduce childhood obesity.
The AAP’s Recommendation:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for your baby for about 6 months. When you add solid foods to your baby’s diet, continue breastfeeding until at least 12 months. Check with your child’s doctor about vitamin D and iron supplements during the first year.
Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible after birth, usually within the first hour. Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger—approximately eight to twelve times every twenty-four hours. The amount of time for each feeding varies widely for each mother-baby pair: It may be anywhere from ten to forty-five minutes in the first few weeks.
Why Breastfeed?
Breastfeeding protects babies
Mothers benefit from breastfeeding
Experts are still looking at the effects of breastfeeding on osteoporosis and weight loss after birth. Many studies have reported greater weight loss for breastfeeding mothers than for those who don’t. But more research is needed to understand if a strong link exists.
Breastfeeding benefits society
The nation benefits overall when mothers breastfeed. Recent research shows that if 90 percent of families breastfed exclusively for 6 months, nearly 1,000 deaths among infants could be prevented. The United States would also save $13 billion per year — medical care costs are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants. Breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
Breastfeeding also contributes to a more productive workforce since mothers miss less work to care for sick infants. Employer medical costs are also lower.
Breastfeeding is also better for the environment. There is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.
Breastfeeding during an emergency
When an emergency occurs, breastfeeding can save lives:
Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/
State and Federal Laws Support Breastfeeding. More than 70 percent of new mothers now follow their doctor’s advice to breastfeed immediately after birth. However, women employed full-time are less likely to initiate breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding once they return to work. Only 25 percent of employed women with children under age one combine working and breastfeeding for at least one month. Visit State and Federal Breastfeeding Laws to see what the breastfeeding laws are.
Breastfeeding Rx
Breastfeeding Prescription for physicians to provide when new mothers return to work and continue to breastfeed.
Questions on breastfeeding? Contact
Brenda Thurlow, MD FAAP , NDAAP Breast Feeding Coordinator
Breastfeeding Websites:
North Dakota Breastfeeding – The North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity’s WIC Program, Healthy Communities Program and Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Program work together to promote breastfeeding and improve support for breastfeeding in all settings.
Baby Milk Action – Baby Milk Action is a non-profit organization which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network to strengthen independent, transparent and effective controls on the marketing of the baby feeding industry. The global network is called IBFAN (the International Baby Food Action Network) a network of over 200 citizens groups in more than 100 countries.
Representative Carolyn Maloney's Website – Legislative support on a woman's decision to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding.com – This web site features online videos on positioning and expression of breast milk. The medical advisory team includes Ruth Lawrence MD, Jane Morton MD, Judith Roepke, RD, PhD and Amy Spangler MN, IBCLC
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine – The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and human lactation. Their mission is to unite members of the various medical specialties with this common purpose.
The AAP’s Recommendation:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for your baby for about 6 months. When you add solid foods to your baby’s diet, continue breastfeeding until at least 12 months. Check with your child’s doctor about vitamin D and iron supplements during the first year.
Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible after birth, usually within the first hour. Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger—approximately eight to twelve times every twenty-four hours. The amount of time for each feeding varies widely for each mother-baby pair: It may be anywhere from ten to forty-five minutes in the first few weeks.
Why Breastfeed?
Breastfeeding protects babies
- Early breast milk is liquid gold – Known as liquid gold, colostrum (coh-LOSS-trum) is the thick yellow first breast milk that you make during pregnancy and just after birth. This milk is very rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby. Although your baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding, it matches the amount his or her tiny stomach can hold.
- Your breast milk changes as your baby grows – Colostrum changes into what is called mature milk. By the third to fifth day after birth, this mature breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein to help your baby continue to grow. It is a thinner type of milk than colostrum, but it provides all of the nutrients and antibodies your baby needs.
- Breast milk is easier to digest – For most babies — especially premature babies — breast milk is easier to digest than formula. The proteins in formula are made from cow’s milk and it takes time for babies’ stomachs to adjust to digesting them.
- Breast milk fights disease – The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illness. This protection is unique; formula cannot match the chemical makeup of human breast milk. In fact, among formula-fed babies, ear infections and diarrhea are more common. Formula-fed babies also have higher risks of:
- Necrotizing (nek-roh-TEYE-zing) enterocolitis (en-TUR-oh-coh-lyt-iss), a disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract in preterm infants.
- Lower respiratory infections
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
Mothers benefit from breastfeeding
- Life can be easier when you breastfeed – Breastfeeding may take a little more effort than formula feeding at first. But it can make life easier once you and your baby settle into a good routine. Plus, when you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize. You do not have to buy, measure, and mix formula. And there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night! You can satisfy your baby’s hunger right away when breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding can save money – Formula and feeding supplies can cost well over $1,500 each year, depending on how much your baby eats. Breastfed babies are also sick less often, which can lower health care costs.
- Breastfeeding can feel great – Physical contact is important to newborns. It can help them feel more secure, warm, and comforted. Mothers can benefit from this closeness, as well. Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time to bond. The skin-to-skin contact can boost the mother’s oxytocin (OKS-ee-TOH-suhn) levels. Oxytocin is a hormone that helps milk flow and can calm the mother.
- Breastfeeding can be good for the mother’s health, too – Breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of these health problems in women:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Postpartum depression
Experts are still looking at the effects of breastfeeding on osteoporosis and weight loss after birth. Many studies have reported greater weight loss for breastfeeding mothers than for those who don’t. But more research is needed to understand if a strong link exists.
- Mothers miss less work – Breastfeeding mothers miss fewer days from work because their infants are sick less often.
Breastfeeding benefits society
The nation benefits overall when mothers breastfeed. Recent research shows that if 90 percent of families breastfed exclusively for 6 months, nearly 1,000 deaths among infants could be prevented. The United States would also save $13 billion per year — medical care costs are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants. Breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
Breastfeeding also contributes to a more productive workforce since mothers miss less work to care for sick infants. Employer medical costs are also lower.
Breastfeeding is also better for the environment. There is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.
Breastfeeding during an emergency
When an emergency occurs, breastfeeding can save lives:
- Breastfeeding protects babies from the risks of a contaminated water supply.
- Breastfeeding can help protect against respiratory illnesses and diarrhea. These diseases can be fatal in populations displaced by disaster.
- Breast milk is the right temperature for babies and helps to prevent hypothermia, when the body temperature drops too low.
- Breast milk is readily available without needing other supplies.
Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/
State and Federal Laws Support Breastfeeding. More than 70 percent of new mothers now follow their doctor’s advice to breastfeed immediately after birth. However, women employed full-time are less likely to initiate breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding once they return to work. Only 25 percent of employed women with children under age one combine working and breastfeeding for at least one month. Visit State and Federal Breastfeeding Laws to see what the breastfeeding laws are.
Breastfeeding Rx
Breastfeeding Prescription for physicians to provide when new mothers return to work and continue to breastfeed.
Questions on breastfeeding? Contact
Brenda Thurlow, MD FAAP , NDAAP Breast Feeding Coordinator
Breastfeeding Websites:
North Dakota Breastfeeding – The North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity’s WIC Program, Healthy Communities Program and Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Program work together to promote breastfeeding and improve support for breastfeeding in all settings.
Baby Milk Action – Baby Milk Action is a non-profit organization which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network to strengthen independent, transparent and effective controls on the marketing of the baby feeding industry. The global network is called IBFAN (the International Baby Food Action Network) a network of over 200 citizens groups in more than 100 countries.
Representative Carolyn Maloney's Website – Legislative support on a woman's decision to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding.com – This web site features online videos on positioning and expression of breast milk. The medical advisory team includes Ruth Lawrence MD, Jane Morton MD, Judith Roepke, RD, PhD and Amy Spangler MN, IBCLC
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine – The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and human lactation. Their mission is to unite members of the various medical specialties with this common purpose.
Breastfeeding Resources:
BabyCared put together a resource about the benefits of breastfeeding that's geared towards helping new moms overcome their breastfeeding struggles. There is a ton of information out there, this guide was designed to cut through the noise a bit.
Here it is: Benefits of Breastfeeding
BabyCared put together a resource about the benefits of breastfeeding that's geared towards helping new moms overcome their breastfeeding struggles. There is a ton of information out there, this guide was designed to cut through the noise a bit.
Here it is: Benefits of Breastfeeding