Importance of Breastfeeding

Importance of Breastfeeding for Mothers

Breastfeeding helps the mother recover from childbirth by contracting the uterus and reducing the amount of blood lost after delivery. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months helps with child spacing and overall lifetime amount of breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis. (Source: WIC) Breastfeeding also promotes mother-infant responsiveness, bonding, and attachment. (Source: Feldman 2004; Tessier 1998).

Importance of Breastfeeding for Babies

Human milk contains more than 200 components that babies need in the first year of life. Babies who are formula fed have higher rates of asthma, allergies, eczema, pneumonia, meningitis, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rhemumatoid arthritis, and childhood cancers compared to breastfed babies. In addition, breastfeeding can protect premature infants from life-threatening gastrointestinal disease. Formula fed infants are at a greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome and have twice the risk of having ear infections in the first year compared to exclusively breastfed infants. Research has shown that children who have been breastfed have higher IQs, reduced risk of becoming overweight, and reduced rate of type I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. (Source: WIC)

Importance of Breastfeeding for the Economy

Breastfeeding also saves money. A recent study by the USDA found that at least $3.6 billion could be saved if exclusive breastfeeding increased from current levels (64 percent in-hospital, 29 percent at six months) to those recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General (75 and 50 percent). This savings is only based on three childhood diseases (otitis media, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis) and it does not include the cost of over-the-counter medications, physician charges, and savings due to reduced long-term morbidity. (Sources: Weimer J. 2001; USDA. Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. 13) Health care expenditures are significantly higher for babies who are not breastfed. For every 1,000 babies not breastfed there are 2,033 excess physician visits, 12 excess hospitalization days, and 609 excess prescriptions for ear, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections. (Source: Ball & Wright, 1999)