Facts You Should Know About Breastfeeding:
- Breastfeeding is the free, natural, and easy way to feed a newborn infant. It is the basis for healthy growth and development and it builds a special bond between a mother and her baby.
- Breastfeeding can reduce an infant’s development of food allergies and certain infectious diseases, including gastroenteritis, immunologic disorders and upper respiratory infections.
- Breastfed babies have a lower risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Breastfeeding lowers the risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer as well as ovarian and cervical cancer.
- Breastfeeding benefits the national economy. By using breastmilk, a free natural resource, artificial baby milk will not have to be purchased.
- Breastfeeding conserves the resources of the planet. The production and transport of artificial baby milk requires valuable resources and creates waste and litter in the environment.
- Breastfeeding is recognized as the Gold Standard for infant feeding.
taken from Indiana's Breastfeeding Resource Handbook, 2003, 4th Edition