Why breastfeed

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Breastfeeding is important! A mother feels close to her baby when she breastfeeds. When you breastfeed, this close feeling will be important for both of you.

Breastfeeding will help your new baby be healthy and strong. And your breastfed baby will be healthier for his whole life.

A mother feels close to her baby when she breastfeeds. When you breastfeed, this close feeling will be important for both of you.

Breastfeeding will help your new baby be healthy and strong. And your breastfed baby will be healthier for his whole life.

Your first milk Your first milk will keep your new baby safe when he enters the world. And as he gets older, your milk will continue to protect him.

Breastfeeding will help your baby grow at a healthy rate and not become overweight when he is a child. A very overweight child can get diabetes and other serious diseases as an adult. Breastfeeding will help your baby be healthier his whole life.

Breastfeeding helps you. When you breastfeed, you protect yourself. You are less likely to get breast cancer and ovarian cancer. And you get your shape back faster.

Breastmilk—better than formula Breastmilk is exactly what your baby needs. Why? Read about breastmilk and formula here>>

More reasons to breastfeed Breastfeeding keeps your baby safe and healthy in many ways. Here are a few:
• Breastfeeding helps your baby’s brain develop.
• Breastfeeding protects your baby from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Breastfeeding protects your baby from certain childhood cancers.
• Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, diarrhea, and allergies.

Doctors and breastfeeding Doctors keep learning more about breastfeeding. They know how important breastfeeding is.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that mothers
• give their babies only breast milk for the first six months.
• continue to breast feed their babies until at least the baby’s first birthday.

After one year old You do not need to stop breastfeeding when your baby turns one. You and your baby may want to keep breastfeeding. Your milk continues to be healthy for your baby and to protect him against getting sick. Feeding him at your breast also helps him feel secure as he begins to walk and explore.

And it’s free! Breastfeeding doesn’t cost extra money. You have more to spend on other important things.

Learning to breastfeed Would you like to learn how to breastfeed? Read about breastfeeding here>>

Are you a WIC mother? You can also learn to breastfeed when you join WIC. When you become a WIC mother, you can
• talk with a WIC educator about breastfeeding.
• go to a parent group. A WIC educator will share information about breastfeeding with you and other parents.
• attend a breastfeeding support group at your WIC center.