Why is breastfeeding so important for infants?
Human milk is perfectly and uniquely suited for human infants. • It is easy to digest and contains all the nutrients that babies need. • Breastmilk contains antibodies that protect infants from a wide variety of illnesses. • Fatty Acids unique to breastmilk play a role in infant brain development. Breastfeeding saves lives. • Breastfeeding protects against SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). • Breastmilk protects premature infants from life threatening gastrointestinal disease. • Breastfed infants are healthier. • Infants who are exclusively breastfed are half as likely as formula fed infants to have ear infections the first year of life. • Breastfed infants have less diarrheal disease. • Breastfeeding reduces the risk of bacterial infections such as meningitis, lower respiratory infections and bacteremia. • Breastfeeding protects against botulism. • Breastfeeding may reduce the risk for inflammatory bowel disease and childhood lymphoma. Why is breastfeeding so important for mothers?
