Lactation Consultant Services
Benefits of Breast Feeding
The American Academy of Pediatrics states in their 1997 policy statement on breastfeeding, "Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it. The breastfed infant is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short- and long-term outcomes."
Benefits to Infants:
- Protective effects against or decreased incidence and/or severity of:
- Diarrhea
- Lower respiratory infections (i.e. RSV)
- Otitis media (middle ear infections)
- Bacteremia (bacterial infection in the blood)
- Botulism (a severe form of food poisoning)
- Urinary tract infections
- Bacterial meningitis
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (severe bowel infection usually found in premature infants)
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Diabetes
- Crohn's Disease (an inflammatory bowel disease)
- Ulcerative Colitis (chronic digestive disease)
- Lymphoma and other childhood cancers
- Allergies
- Metabolic diseases
- Childhood obesity
- Enhanced immune response to vaccines
- Enhanced cognitive development—Higher IQ scores (an average of 8.5 points higher)
- According to the American Dental Association, breastfed infants have fewer cavities, better jaw development, and fewer orthodontic problems later in life.
Benefits to Mothers:
- Less uterine bleeding after birth
- Delayed resumption of ovulation and optimal child spacing
- Provides protection against postmenopausal osteoporosis (i.e. hip fractures)
- Decreased risk of ovarian and breast cancer
- Promotes weight loss after birth
- Improved glucose metabolism and reduced insulin requirements for diabetic mothers