REASONS TO BREASTFEED

There are lots of reasons to give your baby your breast milk. You can find one or more that will best meet your needs or lifestyle. Take your choice! Remember, the longer you breastfeed your baby, the more benefits will be available for you, your baby and the community.
TAKE
YOUR
CHOICE
benefits to the baby
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Promotes bonding between mother and baby.
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Satisfies baby’s emotional needs.
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Provides perfect infant nutrition for the baby in each stage of growth.
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Colostrum at birth and milk were created especially for your baby’s needs.
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Helps baby pass the first stool called meconium.
benefits to the mother
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Promotes bonding between mother and baby.
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Decreases the mother’s risk for breast cancer.
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Helps shrink mother’s uterus after childbirth.
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Suckling helps prevent postpartum bleeding and hemorrhage.
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Nursing helps mom lose weight after the baby is born.
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Decreases insulin requirements for breastfeeding mothers.
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Stabilizes the mother’s risk of osteoporosis later in life.
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Helps mom rest and sleep.
benefits to the community
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The American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it.
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Gentle to the environment (no wrappers, canisters, disposable bottles, fewer packaging products and end products that are not recyclable.)
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Less loss of work time for parents who must stay home to care for a sick baby.
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Less visits to the doctor or hospital (average savings of $1,400 per Kaiser study.)
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Cost savings to taxpayers (government spends over $500 million to provide formula to WIC.)