Breastfeeding

For Your Baby:

It protects against:

Ear infections
Diarrhea and other stomach issues
Allergies
Asthma
Bone loss later in life

Additionally:

It reduces risk of SIDS, diabetes and obesity
Breast milk is all your baby needs for the first 6 months of life
It gives your baby stronger bones and teeth
It helps your baby develop a higher IQ and improves brain development
It promotes lower blood pressure and cholesterol later in life

For You:

Breastfeeding reduces risk of:

Cancer including breast and ovarian
Postpartum depression
Low-iron

Additionally:

It helps return uterus to its normal size
It promotes weight loss (burns up to 500 calories per day!)
It reduces health care costs because babies are healthier
It helps you develops a special bond with your baby

Breastfeed for the Best Start information in Spanish (pdf)

Tags

Family Planning Health