August is National Breastfeeding Month, so it’s the perfect time to talk about the many benefits of breast milk – not just for baby, but for mom, too! Breast milk is the best food for your baby, and it has just the right amount of nutrients. It also protects your baby's digestive system and other body systems, and helps as these systems develop.

Breastfeeding Benefits for Baby:

• Breastfeeding gives contact that your baby loves. Spending time skin-to-skin with you is calming and comforting.
• Breast milk lowers the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Babies who are solely breastfed have a lower risk for ear infections in their first year than formula-fed babies.
• Breast milk has DHA. This is a fat that helps your baby’s developing brain, nervous system and eyes.
• Breast milk is full of antibodies. These help your baby fight infection.
• Breast milk lowers your baby's risk for respiratory illnesses, ear infections and diarrhea.
• Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk for allergies, colds and many other diseases. Formula-fed babies are more likely to have an allergy to cow's milk.
• Breast milk changes as your baby grows. This meets your baby's changing needs.
• Breastfeeding all of the time for the first 6 months gives your baby more of these benefits.
• Breastfeeding plus solid food from 6 months to 1 year or more gives more benefits.
• Breastfed babies have fewer long-term health problems when they grow up. These problems include diabetes and obesity.

Breastfeeding Benefits for Mom:

• You can feel good knowing that your baby is growing healthy and strong because of your milk.
• Breast milk is convenient. It's free, clean and always at the right temperature.
• Breastfeeding burns calories. This can help you lose pregnancy weight faster.
• Breastfeeding releases hormones that contract the uterus. This helps the uterus return to its normal size after childbirth.
• Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk for ovarian and breast cancers.

Many people can help you learn to breastfeed. A lactation consultant is a health care provider specially trained to help moms breastfeed. Your nurse, midwife, nurse practitioner, obstetrician, pediatrician or family practice doctor can also help you learn about breastfeeding.

Source: The Staywell Company