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Value of Breastfeeding

 

"Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed your baby. Breastmilk provides all the nutrition your infant requires. It has hundreds of antibodies, enzymes and other factors that protect your baby from infection and disease. Breastmilk is easy for your baby to digest, is always the correct temperature, easy to provide, always handy, changes as your baby grows and is free! Breastmilk and breastfeeding help every part of your infant's development."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Mother
 

  • Helps you bond with your infant

  • Helps your body heal after the birth

  • Helps your body return to your pre-pregnancy weight

  • Mothers who breastfeed have lower rates of:

    • Post-Partum Depression

    • Type 2 Diabetes

    • Osteoporosis

    • Heart Disease

    • Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Child

  • Provides perfect nutrition

  • Reduces the impact of infection

  • Promotes optimal brain development

  • Provides special protection for premature and ill infants

  • Babies who are breastfed have lower rates of:

    • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

    • Obesity

    • Type 1 Diabetes

    • Pneumonia and other respiratory infections

    • Gastrointestinal Infections

FACT:  Health Canada, The World Health Organization (WHO), and many other national and international organizations recommend that no other foods besides breastmilk be given to your baby until he/she is six months of age. They also recommend that you continue to breastfeed even after the introduction of solid foods at 6 months. Significant health benefits have been displayed in children that breastfeed for 2 years or longer. 

Health Nexus. (2013). Breastfeeding Matters: BestStart Guide. Retrieved from http://www.beststart.org/cgi- bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=B04-E

 

Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport. (2010). Baby’s Best Chance: Parents Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care.

            Crown Publications Services: Victoria, BC.

 

Venter, Kathy. (2014). ‘Making a Difference: A Breastfeeding Course for Health Professionals. 

 

 

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