Breastfeeding is safe and free and cannot be replicated by any formula. The CDC recommends that infants breastfeed until 6 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also supports breastfeeding because it benefits both the mother and child.
Breastfeeding Benefits Baby:
- Assists with brain development
- Strengthens the infant’s immune system
- Easy to digest (infants have decreased bowel and G.I issues)
- Reduces the risk of asthma, obesity, diabetes, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Breastfeeding Benefits Mom:
- Burns calories which help mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight
- Decreases the risk of developing diabetes, breast and ovarian cancers
- Can decrease or delay the return of the menstrual cycle
Contraindications to Breastfeeding:
- Mothers diagnosed with HIV and living in the U.S. (other countries may have different rules)
- Mothers who test positive for Ebola virus or recently recovered from it