BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding babies because it offers many advantages to both babies and mothers. The benefits of breastfeeding are important to know when choosing between breastfeeding or formula feeding a newborn baby.

Benefits for the baby:

No formula can be made exactly the same as human milk because all the ingredients of human milk are not known. A mother's breast milk is the perfect food for babies. The baby gets colostrum, or first milk, which provides protein and protection from infections. Human milk is nature's perfect design for helping a baby's body and brain grow and develop. The only food a baby needs for about 6 months is breast milk.

Babies can digest the protein in breast milk more completely than the protein in cow's milk. A diet of breast milk produces loose bowel movements that a baby can easily pass. Constipation is rare in breastfed infants. Continue breastfeeding, even after a baby begins feeding on solid foods, until the child is a year old or even older.

Breast-fed babies have fewer colds, ear infections, and episodes of diarrhea than formula-fed babies. The baby's chances of remaining healthy are improved. Breastfed babies have fewer allergies and are less likely to have skin problems and asthma than babies who are fed formula.

A baby regularly needs breast milk and physical closeness, and full breasts regularly need to be emptied. Nursing is a valuable source of security and comfort for babies. Breastfeeding develops an intimate relationship that can deepen the bond between a mother and her baby.

Benefits for the new mother:

Nursing releases hormones that help the uterus return to its normal size and control blood loss after delivery. The mother's body responds to breastfeeding by making more milk.

Women who breast-feed are better able to control their weight, because their bodies burn calories to make milk. Breastfeeding offers women some protection against disease. Women who breastfeed are less likely to get breast cancer before menopause and are less likely to suffer broken hips in older life.

Breastfeeding is very convenient. No matter where the mother is outside the home, her breast milk is always ready for her hungry baby. It is the right temperature and the correct amount. Many mothers express their milk using breast pumps. This milk is stored in the freezer to be warmed and given later to the baby in a bottle.

It is less expensive to breast-feed because there is no need to buy formula. It is much easier to curl up with the baby to breast-feed than worry about mixing formula. However, mothers who want to stop breastfeeding altogether and switch to a bottle-feeding formula can do so. After starting a bottle-feeding formula program, the mother may not be able to switch back to breastfeeding again weeks later.

Getting started:

Learning to breast-feed may be a challenge at first. But as the new mother and baby learn each other's rhythms, breastfeeding will get easier. The best time to start breastfeeding is right after the baby is born. Babies who get a bottle before breastfeeding can have nipple confusion making it harder for them to breast-feed.

Babies are born with a powerful sucking reflex. To prevent sore nipples, the mother can use her finger to release suction before removing the baby from the nipple. The entire nipple and darkly colored area of the breast should be included during sucking. The nipple should be washed with water and air-dried.

Putting the baby to the breast shortly after birth helps strengthen the bond between the mother and her newborn baby. For more information about breastfeeding, contact La Leche League International at (800) 525-3243 or visit their website at www.lalecheleague.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File NEWB4801.RF2 VRS# 4801 Data Version 7.0