Importance of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is important because:

• Breast milk changes to meet the needs of your growing baby.
• Breast milk is a mild laxative. This helps the newborn pass meconium. It also helps prevent jaundice.
• Breastfed babies have fewer bowel, breathing and ear problems.
• Breast milk helps protect baby from heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and obesity later in life.
• Breast milk has enough water for baby’s needs.
• Exclusive breastfeeding provides sufficient iron for the first six months. The iron in breast milk is very easily absorbed by baby.
• Breastfeeding helps mom’s uterus return to pre pregnancy size.
• Breastfeeding helps protect mom from osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and diabetes.

Breastfeeding Matters is a resource created by Best Start that can help you learn about the importance of breastfeeding, how to breastfeed, how to help someone that is breastfeeding, and other breastfeeding related issues. See this resource for information on skin-to-skin (page 11), latching (page 12), and other common questions or concerns that you might have (page 31).