Benefits of Breastfeeding

Benefits

Most health professionals are familiar with the benefits of breastfeeding. The AAP continues to support the unequivocal evidence that breastfeeding protects against a variety of diseases and conditions in the infant such as:

bacteremia
diarrhea
respiratory tract infection
necrotizing enterocolitis
otitis media
urinary tract infection
late-onset sepsis in preterm infants
type 1 and type 2 diabetes
lymphoma, leukemia, and Hodgkins disease
childhood overweight and obesity

There are also maternal health benefits to breastfeeding such as:

decreased postpartum bleeding and more rapid uterine involution
decreased menstrual blood loss and increased child spacing (lactational amenorrhea)
earlier return to prepregnancy weight
decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers

Breastfeeding is also a great benefit to the environment and society. Breastfeeding families are sick less often and the parents miss less work. It does not require the use of energy for manufacturing or create waste or air pollution. There is no risk of contamination and it is always at the right temperature and ready to feed.