Better for everyone.
Recently, researchers studied important information about breastfeeding. They have found that breastfeeding is not only good for baby just after birth, but also better for both mom and baby later on in life. They hope more babies are breastfed until age one for better health everywhere.
Breast milk is more than enough.
- Babies get everything their bodies need plus extra nutrition from mom’s breast milk. They don’t need to be given any other liquids or foods while on breast milk.
Breastfeeding is healthier for mom and baby.
- Protects baby from infection and sickness
- May protect baby from being overweight and from diabetes
- May help make baby smarter
- Prevents breast cancer in mom
- May protect mom from ovarian cancer and diabetes
Breastfeeding saves lives.
- It could prevent the deaths of 823,000 children (under age 5) and 20,000 mothers each year all over the world.
Ways we can make it easier for moms to breastfeed:
- Paid time off work for mom
- Better control of baby food advertising
- Breastfeeding friendly workplaces where there are rooms for moms to pump milk and more day care centers connected to companies so that mom can breastfeed her child throughout her workday
- More supportive health care workers who are trained to help with breastfeeding and have positive attitudes
Breastfeeding guide: Your Guide to Breastfeeding
Keep in mind that breastfeeding is not possible for everyone and formula is another healthy option.
Talk to your doctor or health care provider for more information.
Call 800 – 994 – 9662 (free) for answers and help with your breastfeeding situation.
Call 877 – 452 – 5324 (free) for answers and breastfeeding help near you (international).
Call 866 – 626 – 6847 or text questions to 855 – 999 – 3525 for free information about medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Mon – Fri 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM local time.
Sources:
–Breastfeeding series: The Lancet: January 30, 2016. The Lancet web site. bit.ly/1P0Sjmq. Published January 30, 2016. Accessed February 01, 2016.
– The Lancet. Breastfeeding: achieving the new normal. Lancet. 2016; 387(10017): 404. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00210-5