The Health, Environmental and Economical Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breast milk is the ideal source of food for your baby, but the advantages of breastfeeding extend far beyond nutrition.  Breastfeeding benefits the environment, the economy and most importantly the health and well-being of mothers and children throughout the world. Here are some examples of the many ways breastfeeding benefits individuals, families and our society.




Health Benefits For Infants and Children

Breastfed children are healthier with stronger immune systems.

Essential nutrients in breast milk promote the development of the brain, eyes and nervous system.

Breastfeeding decreases the risk of SIDS.

Breastfeeding reduces a child's risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, allergies, diabetes and childhood cancer.

Health Benefits for Mothers

Breastfeeding helps the uterus shrink back to it's normal size more quickly after delivery reducing the risk of post partum hemorrhage.

Nursing may help prevent heart disease because it is linked to a decrease risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Breastfeeding mothers have a reduced the risk of ovarian, breast and uterine cancer as well as type II diabetes and rhematoid arthritis.
Environmental Benefits

There is no packaging, cans of formula, plastic liners, bottles or nipples to dispose of.

There are no bottles to wash reducing water consumption.

The production of breast milk does not require electricity, gas, oil or coal and it leaves no pollution or industrial waste behind.

Economical Benefits

Breastfeeding saves money. Formula, bottles, nipples, and bottle liners are very expensive. Even with the purchase of a few breastfeeding supplies, breastfeeding can still save a family thousands of dollars a year.

If more women breastfeed, government programs that provide formula to families could save millions of dollars.

Children who are breastfed are sick less often so parents take less time off from work and they do not lose income. Employers also benefit by saving money on insurance claims and having a more productive workforce.

Breastfed infants are healthier and spend less time at the doctor's office and hospital each year. Breastfeeding helps prevent some of the most common illnesses and infections of infancy. Increasing the breastfeeding rates could save billions of dollars in health care costs.

_Sources:

_{American Academy of Pediatrics. New Mother's Guide To Breastfeeding. Bantam Books. New York. 2011.}

_{American Academy of Pediatrics. Your Baby's First Year Third Edition. Bantam Books. New York. 2010.}

_{Lawrence, Ruth A., MD, Lawrence, Robert M., MD. Breastfeeding A Guide For The Medical Profession Sixth Edition. Mosby. Philadelphia. 2005.}

_{United States Breastfeeding Committee. Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding [issue paper]. Raleigh, NC: United States Breastfeeding Committee; 2002.}

_{Weimer, Jon. The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding: A Review and Analysis. Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service. United States Department of Agriculture. Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. 13. Washington, D.C. March 2001.}