Breastfeeding
The Best Start for You and Your Baby
Give
your baby the best food around. Breastfeed your baby! No
formula in the world is as healthy as breastmilk. Breastfeeding is an act of love! It will be sure to give
you a very close bond with your baby.
Doctors
say: “Breast is Best.”
In
2006, the American Academy of Pediatrics said:
“Human
milk is the preferred feeding for all infants…It is
recommended that babies exclusively breastfeed for the first
6 months, and breastfeeding should continue for at least
the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually
desired.”
Exclusive breastfeeding means no other liquids or foods
are needed for a healthy infant.
Healthy
Babies
Your
baby needs breastmilk to get the food he or she must have
to grow and develop. Studies prove time and time again that
breastfed babies are healthier.
-
There
are over 100 things in your breastmilk that are not in
any formula. These make your baby’s immune system
stronger.
-
In
the first year, babies who nurse are ten times less likely
to be put in the hospital.
-
Breastfed babies are less likely to die of SIDS.
Happy and Healthy Mothers
Women
don’t just nurse their babies because they “have
to.” They nurse because they enjoy it!
-
During
breastfeeding, levels of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin
go up in your body. Prolactin gives you feelings of bonding
and love. Oxytocin helps the uterus to shrink to its normal
size.
-
Breastfeeding helps to prevent bone weakness and cancer
of the breast, uterus, and ovaries.
Economic,
Family and Environmental Advantages
-
Breast milk is free!
-
Billions of dollars are saved with less health care costs
and less time off from work.
-
Less energy used to produce, transport, and dispose of artificial
feeding products.
Did you know?
...giving your baby
formula can cause you to make less breastmilk?
It
is best to wait until you baby is at least 2 to 3 weeks
old, and has learned how to breastfeed, before giving any
formula. After a few weeks, a bottle once in a while should
not hurt your milk supply. However, using a lot of formula
will decrease the amount of breastmilk you make.
Try
to avoid giving your baby formula after breastfeeding. Remember
that breastfed babies will often take a bottle after they
nurse because they have strong suckling reflexes. This does
not always mean they are still hungry.
Going to work or school?
Many
mothers are able to keep breastfeeding while they are working
or going to school. Check out these breastfeeding
links for more information.
If you feel like you don't have enough breastmilk, try:
-
Nursing
the baby more often. Little babies need to be nursed at
least 8-12 times every 24 hours.
-
Nursing
the baby as often and as long as he or she needs. Rest
assured that if your baby is growing well he/she is getting
enough from breastfeeding.
-
Using
both breasts at each feeding.
-
Avoiding
extra formula or water that your baby doesn't need.
Growth Spurt
Babies go through times when they need more breastmilk to
grow. This is normal. If this happens, just nurse your baby
more often for a few days. Your breastmilk supply will build
up to meet your baby's needs.
|
