Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0

Breast-feeding is considered the preferred method of feeding babies because it offers many advantages to both babies and mothers. You should know the benefits of breast-feeding before you make your final decision about how to feed your baby.

How does my baby benefit from breast-feeding?

1. A mother's breast milk is the perfect food for babies.

   The only food your baby needs for about 6 months is breast milk. After you start feeding your baby solid foods, you should continue breast-feeding until your child is a year old or even older.

   Human milk is nature's perfect design for helping your baby's body and brain grow and develop. No formula can be made exactly the same as human milk because we do not know all the ingredients of human milk.

   Babies can digest breast milk easily. A diet of breast milk produces loose bowel movements that a baby can easily pass. Constipation is rare in breast-fed infants.

2. Breast-feeding protects your baby from sickness.

   Breast-feeding helps protect your baby from illnesses including diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, and serious illnesses. Breast-feeding improves your baby's chances of remaining healthy.

3. Nursing is a valuable source of security and comfort for your baby.

   You and your baby give comfort to each other. Your baby regularly needs your breast milk and physical closeness, and your full breasts regularly need to be emptied. Breast-feeding develops an intimate relationship that can deepen the bond between you and your baby.

4. Breast-fed babies have fewer allergies.

   Your baby is less likely to have skin problems and asthma than babies who are fed formula.

How do I benefit from breast-feeding?

1. Breast-feeding helps your uterus shrink after delivery.

   Nursing causes your body to release a hormone called oxytocin. This hormone helps your uterus return to its normal size after delivery.

2. Breast-feeding can help you lose weight.

   Breast-feeding uses up calories and usually helps mothers lose some of the extra weight they gained during pregnancy.

3. Breast-feeding is very convenient.

   No matter where you are, the perfect food is ready for your baby. It is at the right temperature and in the correct amount. You can take your baby with you anywhere, knowing your milk will be ready for him whenever he is hungry.

4. Breast-feeding can work as birth control during the first 6 months after delivery.

   Breast-feeding works as a method of birth control during the first few months after delivery. Breast feeding provides protection against pregnancy during the first 6 months after you give birth if:

   • you are feeding your baby nothing but breast milk AND
   • your menstrual periods have NOT returned.

   Other methods of birth control should be used if:

   • you have started having menstrual periods again
   • you have added formula supplements or solid food to your baby's diet OR
   • more than 6 months have passed since the birth.

There is a small risk that you will become pregnant while you are breast-feeding. If you are worried about it, use another form of birth control as well.

5. Breast-feeding offers women some protection against disease

   Women who breast-feed are less likely to get breast cancer before menopause and are less likely to suffer broken hips in older life.

6. You can switch to bottle-feeding if you decide you want to stop breast-feeding, but the opposite may not be true.

   If you decide you do not want to nurse anymore, you can stop breast-feeding and switch to bottle-feeding. On the other hand, after starting bottle-feeding, you usually cannot switch to breast-feeding weeks later.

Carefully consider the advantages of breast-feeding for you and your baby and think about giving breast-feeding a try. Remember, the success of breast-feeding is best measured by how much you and your baby enjoy nursing, not only by the amount of milk you produce or the length of time you breast-feed.