Breastfeeding is recognized as the preferred method for feeding infants by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dietetics Association, the American Association of Family Practitioners, the National WIC Association, and the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describes breast milk as “liquid gold.”
During August, Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Forrest Health wants to tout the advantages of breastfeeding for both mother and baby alike.
Maybe most important, breastfeeding helps mother and baby form an intense bond in the first hours after birth and provides many health benefits for your baby into adulthood.
For babies:
Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of common childhood illnesses, including ear infections, respiratory infections, and gastroenteritis. For preterm infants, mother’s own milk reduces the risk of and provides some protection from infection, and less severe retinopathy of prematurity. Breastfed infants are healthier. Babies who are exclusively breastfed have a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). They are less likely to have weight problems in childhood and are less likely to suffer from asthma and allergies. They even have a lower risk of diabetes and leukemia as they get older. Breastfed babies have fewer food allergies. Breastfed babies grow up to be leaner than bottle-fed babies. Babies receive nutrients that only a mother’s milk can provide.
For mothers:
Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and postpartum depression. And, the longer a woman breastfeeds in her lifetime, the more protection she receives. They also recover from childbirth quicker. Breastfeeding saves money. There’s no formula to buy, and because your baby will be healthier, fewer doctor visits to pay for. Low rates of breastfeeding add more than $3 billion a year to medical costs for the mother and child in the United States.
Mothers who give birth at Forrest Health facilities have numerous aids at their fingertips. Both Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg and Highland Community Hospital in Picayune have Baby-Friendly Designations, which means the staff at each facility takes extra measures to provide the highest standard of care for lactating mothers and their babies. Specially-trained lactation counselors are available to help new moms learn how to breastfeed and to answer your questions.
At times, breastfeeding can be challenging. With support, some of the issues with breastfeeding are temporary and can be resolved. There are people
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