Feeding Baby
Feeding Baby
Breastfeeding, or formula? For many reasons, breastfeeding is the better choice according to pediatricians. Babies who are breastfed:
· Get optimal nutrition every day, without expensive trips to the grocery store
· Have fewer allergies
· Have fewer digestive problems (colic, spitting up)
· Have fewer ear infections
· Are less likely to die of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
· Have some protection against diseases such as cancer
· Are less likely to be obese as adults
And there are benefits to mom, too:
· Women who breastfeed have less vaginal bleeding and less risk of hemorrhage after birth.
· Milk production requires 500-1000 calories a day. One-half of the calories from body fat stored during pregnancy. Women who breastfeed lose pregnancy weight more easily than women who formula-feed.
· Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer in young women. The longer you breastfeed, the lower your risk.
· Breastfeeding reduces the risk of uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.
· Breastfeeding improves bone density and reduces the risk of hip fractures in older women.
· Breastfeeding requires no mixing, no measuring, and no clean-up, making nighttime feedings quick and easy.
· Breast and babies are portable.
· Breastfeeding promotes a special relationship between a mother and her baby.
· Parents who breastfeed save more than $1000 in infant feeding cost during the first year alone
The fact is that no one has yet created a substitute that equals the benefits of breast milk for babies.
In spite of all these benefits, women face some barriers to breastfeeding.
Women need support from family, friends, and their doctors to overcome these barriers. If you or someone you know is having trouble breastfeeding, call one of these help lines.
If you want more information about breastfeeding, check out these great websites:
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