Why Breastfeed?

Benefits for Baby

Nutrition - Breast milk has the exact combination of vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, amino acids, and other nutrients that your baby needs to grow and develop. Formula is NOT equivalent.
Intelligence - Breast milk is better for brain development than formula. Breastfed babies are smarter and score higher on IQ tests.
Immunity - Breast milk contains antibodies which help your baby stay healthy. Breastfed babies have fewer colds, ear infections, and other illnesses than formula-fed babies.
Digestion - Breast milk is much easier for a baby to digest than any other food.
Exercise - Nursing at the breast is good exercise for your baby's mouth and jaw, which helps promote proper development of his or her facial structure.
Allergies - Breast milk reduces the likelyhood of your baby developing allergies. Many babies are allergic to milk and soy (on which most formulas are based), but very few are allergic to human milk.
Mommy Time - Breastfeeding makes mom and baby take time out of the day to cuddle and nurse, ensuring that baby gets lots of one-on-one time with mommy.

Pleasurable - Breastfeeding is a pleasurable experience for mother and also helps her to bond with her baby.
Cancer - The more you nurse, the less likely you are to develop breast cancer. Breastfeeding also protects against ovarian cancer, urinary tract infections, osteoporosis, and some other health problems.
Baby Spacing - Mothers who fully breastfeed their babies usually do not experience the return of their fertility until 6 months or more after giving birth.
Postpartum Recovery - The hormones released into the mother's body during breastfeeding help the uterus to contract and the bleeding to stop.
Weight Loss - Breastfeeding transmits some of the calories you eat to your baby, therefore helping you to lose weight easier.
Relaxation - Breastfeeding is naturally relaxing and calming - very important for the mother of a new baby!
Baby Care - Breastfeeding is helpful for calming and soothing a fussy baby, for putting baby to sleep, and for many other aspects of parenting, thereby making Mom's job easier.

Baby Care - Breastfeeding makes for a calmer, healthier, happier baby, which makes the whole family less stressed.
Budget - Breastmilk is free! Breastfeeding also saves time, effort, and energy over bottle feeding.
Night Time - No one has to prepare bottles of formula in the middle of the night. Breastmilk is always ready for baby. Many moms even find that they can nurse lying down in bed, which allows them to get a little more sleep while baby eats.
Travel - It is easier to travel with a breastfed baby because you do not need to pack formula or bottles and you do not need to worry about having a good supply of water or a way to heat or refridgerate formula. Breastmilk is always ready to go where ever mom goes.
Emergency Situations - If you find yourself in an emergency situation where food, water, formula, electricity, or other necessities are scarce - you can still breastfeed!

Economy - Breastfeeding saves money for families and welfare programs. By helping to prevent common illnesses, it also saves health care dollars.
Energy - Breastfeeding does not require warming formula, washing or sterilizing bottles, and it does not have to be shipped to stores or consumers, all of which results in energy and fuel savings.
Healthcare - Breastfeeding helps to prevent many illnesses.

Information on this page taken from the seventh revised edition of "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by La Leche League International.