Why Breastfeed?

• Human milk provides ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants.
• Human milk provides protection against infection.
• Breastfeeding is beneficial to a mother’s health.
• Breastfeeding encourages positive attachment behaviors and maternal-infant bonding.
• Breastfeeding is environmentally friendly, producing less waste.
• Breastfeeding has economic benefits to families, communities and the state.

Did you know that...

• Human milk promotes normal, healthy growth & development
• Human milk is ALL the nutrition an infant needs for the first 6 months of life
• The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life & continued breastfeeding at least to 12 months &beyond
• Human milk provides the infant with infection protection
• Breastfed children have a lower incidence of allergies
• Breastfeeding protects mother's health too
• Breastfeeding encourages positive attachment behaviors
• Breastfeeding is environment-friendly
• Supplementation with artificial milk delays early milk production & inhibits prolactin production
• Discontinuation or interruption of breastfeeding is usually unnecessary when infants have jaundice or when mothers are taking medications
• Exclusive breastfeeding delays the return of fertility & aids in child-spacing
• Mothers who return to work may continue to provide their own milk for their infants by expressing their milk with a breast pump
• Preterm & special needs infants can learn to breastfeed too
• Ill infants need human milk more, not less
• Community & professional support of the breastfeeding family impacts the success of breastfeeding

Do you have a breastfeeding fact you would like to see posted here? Please email us and be sure to include the reference!