Breastfeeding … Baby's Best Start. Keep It Up!

Breastfeeding has so many advantages over artificial milk and those benefits can continue even if you have to return to work. Your breastmilk is the perfect food for your child and has many unique and special qualities that cannot be reproduced in artificial milk.

Did you know……

• Breastmilk enhances a baby's health, growth and development. It is the ideal nutrition for your baby in the first six months of life and changes to meet your child's changing nutritional needs.

• Breastfeeding contains protective factors that help children fight against ear infections, familial diabetes, lower respiratory infections and other long-term illnesses.

• Breastfed babies are less likely to have chronic digestive diseases and food allergies for the first several years of life.

• Breastfeeding is associated with a decreased risk for maternal anemia, premenopausal breast and ovarian cancer.

• Breastmilk helps your baby's brain development and may improve your baby's IQ.

• Breastfeeding provides an opportunity for mother and child to have special time together.

• Breastmilk is always readily available; there are not bottles to wash or formula to prepare. Night feedings are much more restful.

• Breastfed babies smell better; spit-up and dirty diapers don't smell bad and breastmilk does not stain clothes.

• Breastfeeding your baby has environmental benefits. None of the paper, plastic, tin or energy necessary for preparing, packging or transporting formula are used.

• Breastfeeding produces special hormones in the mother that helps her feel relaxed and loving towards her child.

• It's free.

(Taken from the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Washington State)