The Benefits of Breast Feeding

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The Benefits of Breast Feeding Extend to Baby AND Mom

The benefits of breast feeding have long been focused on the newborn baby. That is how it should be. You want the very best for your child, and for many moms that is enough of a reason to choose to breast feed.

Recent studies have brought to light the additional breastfeeding benefits for the mom and more benefits are being discovered all of the time.

Some mothers who would like to breastfeed are unable. With all of the benefits of breastfeeding, it is a wonder that anyone who IS able to breastfeed would CHOOSE not to.

You know it’s the best for both mom and baby. Do you want to know just how good?

Here are some great benefits of breast feeding:

Benefits For the Baby

Passes on antibodies to protect from immediate illnesses

Increased protection against many lifetime diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and some cancers

Lower rates of sleep apnea through adulthood

Breast fed babies have higher IQs than formula fed babies

Lower rate of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in breast fed babies

Breastmilk is more easily digested

Improves effectiveness of vaccinations

Lower rates of obesity from infancy to adulthood

Benefits For the Mother

Burns more calories, resulting in faster pregnancy weight loss

Decreases post delivery hemorrhage

Lower health care costs for childhood illnesses and diseases

Healthier baby means less time-off needed from work if working outside the home

No preparation required, always warm and ready

Lower rates of breast, uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancers among breastfeeding moms

Decreased need for insulin in diabetic mothers

Lower risk of heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stroke

There is often a delay of the return of menstration

Lower risk of osteoporosis

Increased bonding opportunity

Breastfeeding is free

Is that not enough for you? Click here for even more advantages of breastfeeding , created by our readers. (Or share a personal story of your own.)

These breastfeeding benefits vary depending on the genetics of the mother and child and on the duration of breastfeeding, but what a list! If there was a pill that promised half of these benefits, the world would pay millions for it...but it is free!

What better gift can you give yourself and your newborn baby?