Maternity Care Coalition
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Benefits of Breastfeeding

Best for Baby. Best for Mom. Best for Everyone.

Breast milk is the best gift that a mother can offer her child. Its benefits are overwhelming and well documented for both. A report prepared for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides significant evidence of a tremendous number of benefits. 1

Breastfeeding is Good for Baby

Nutrition
Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. It is the source of nourishment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 1 & 2
Cognitive Development
Results from some studies suggest that breastfeeding enhances cognitive development. 3 & 4
Emotional Development
Breastfeeding helps mothers bond with their babies. Physical contact is important to newborns and helps the baby feel more secure, warm and comforted. 3 & 4
Decreased Risk for Diseases
Many studies show that breastfed infants have:
  • Lower rates of chronic childhood diseases and conditions such as diabetes, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, allergies, and asthma
  • Lower rates of acute childhood diseases such as diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis, obesity, and childhood leukemia 1-4
  • Lower rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) 1-4
  • Better responses to immunizations 2-4
 

Breastfeeding is Good for Mom

Ease
Breastfeeding saves time and money: no purchasing or preparation of formula and bottles is needed. 3
Bonding
Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and bonding with their infants, and breastfeeding feels good for the mom, if done properly. 3
Cancer Risk Reduction
Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. 1 & 6
Weight Loss
Breastfeeding uses extra calories, making it easier to lose those pregnancy pounds. Breastfeeding also helps the uterus get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. 6

 

Breastfeeding is Good for Father and Family

Healthier Baby and Mother
Breastfeeding reduces anxiety caused by having a child or parent who is sick. 6
Economic Benefits
Breastfeeding helps maximize the family budget by reducing the amount of money spent annually on formula. 6
Reduced Healthcare Costs
Breastfeeding reduces the number of work days lost due to a child's illness and medical costs associated with a sick child. 6

 

Breastfeeding is Good for Society

Reduced Infant Mortality Rates
Studies reveal that communities with higher breastfeeding rates exhibit a lower morbidity and mortality rate for infants because of the protective effects of breast milk. 5
Healthier Community and Workforce
Breastfeeding leads to healthier babies and by reducing anxiety concerning a sick child, allows parents to be more productive at work and in the community. 5
Reduced National Healthcare Costs
Breastfeeding reduces medical expenses and insurance claims for children because breastfed children are less ill. 5
Stronger Environment
Breastfeeding benefits the environment by reducing pollution associated with processing, packaging, shipping, and disposal of formula. 7

 

References:

  1. Ip S, Chung M, Raman G, Chew P, Magula N, DeVine D, Trikalinos T, Lau J. Breastfeeding and
    Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries. Evidence Report/Technology
    Assessment No. 153 (Prepared by Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-based Practice
    Center, under Contract No. 290-02-0022). AHRQ Publication No. 07-E007. Rockville, MD:
    Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. April 2007.
  2. American Academy of Pediatrics, Work Group on Breastfeeding. (1997). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 100 (6): pp.1035-39. Retrieved on the World Wide Web on December 02, 2003 from www.aap.org
  3. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). HHS Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health, 2000:1-33
  4. Department of Health and Human Services- Office of Women's Health (OWH). (2003). National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved on World Wide Web on October 25, 2003 from www.4woman.gov/
  5. Wolf, Jacqueline. (2003). Low breastfeeding rates and public health in the United States.. American Journal of Public Health. Vol. 93(12). pp. 2000-2009.
  6. Wright, Anne L., Bauer, Mark, Naylor, Audrey, Sutcliffe, Emily, and Clark, Larry. (1998). Increasing breastfeeding rates to reduce infant illness at the community level.. Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics. Volume 101(5): pp. 837-844.
  7. United States Breastfeeding Committee. (2002). Economic benefits of breastfeeding [issue paper].

 

 

Last Updated June 2008