Benefits to the Infant:1,2,3
The benefits to infants from either breastfeeding or receiving expressed breast milk are:
- Nutritionally balanced meals
- Protection against common childhood illnesses and infections
- Better survival during the first year of life, including lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Less chance of developing some allergic diseases
- Lower likelihood of being obese as an adult
- Less chance of developing type 1 diabetes
- Physical and emotional benefits of breastfeeding directly from the mother's breast due to skin-to-skin contact
In addition, research has shown a connection between breastfeeding and better cognitive development in children through school age.4,5 More research is needed to understand whether these cognitive effects are from the chemical contents of the human milk or from other factors, such as the increased interaction between the mother and child while nursing.
Benefits to the Mother:6,7,8
- Less blood loss following childbirth and improved healing
- Improved postpartum weight loss
- Emotional benefits from close interaction with the infant
- Lower likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression, which is seen more often in new mothers who do not breastfeed
- Less chance of developing certain health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers (for example, breast cancer)
- Physical and emotional benefits of breastfeeding directly from a mother's breast due to skin-to-skin contact with her infant
Economic Benefits (in the U.S.):9,10
- Families with infants who are breastfed save hundreds of dollars per year that might otherwise be spent on infant formula.
- Improved overall health of breastfed infants could mean that fewer insurance claims are filed and fewer medical services are needed.
- Fewer illnesses in breastfed infants also could mean that employees who are parents take fewer sick days to stay home and care for ill infants.
- Fewer premature deaths of breastfed infants could mean a savings associated with the funeral costs and lost work days of the parents when an infant passes away prematurely.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2012, February 27). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 129, e827–e841. Retrieved April 27, 2012, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.full.pdf+html [top]
- National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). (2009, February 9). Breastfeeding. Retrieved April 26, 2012, from http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Breastfeeding/ [top]
- UNICEF. (n.d.). Skin-to-skin contact. Retrieved June 12, 2012, from http://www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/Resources/Guidance-for-Health-Professionals/Learning-about-breastfeeding/Skin-to-skin-contact/ [top]
- Kramer, M. S., Aboud, F., Mironova, E., Vanilovich, I., Platt, R. W., Matush, L., et al. (2008). Breastfeeding and child cognitive development: New evidence from a large randomized trial. Archives of General Psychiatry, 65, 578-584. [top]
- Anderson, J. W., Johnstone, B.M., & Remley, D. T. (1999). Breast-feeding and cognitive development: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 7, 525-535. [top]
- AAP. (2012, February 27). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 129, e827–e841. Retrieved April 27, 2012, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.full.pdf+html [top]
- NICHD. (2009, February 9). Breastfeeding. Retrieved April 26, 2012, from http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Breastfeeding/ [top]
- UNICEF. (n.d.). Skin-to-skin contact. Retrieved June 12, 2012, from http://www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/Resources/Guidance-for-Health-Professionals/Learning-about-breastfeeding/Skin-to-skin-contact/ [top]
- AAP. (2012, February 27). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 129, e827–e841. Retrieved April 27, 2012, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.full.pdf+html [top]
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011, January 20). The Surgeon General's call to action to support breastfeeding. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. Retrieved June 13, 2012, from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/breastfeeding/calltoactiontosupportbreastfeeding.pdf (PDF - 904 KB) [top]