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Breast Feeding Benefits For babies, breast milk: • Is an ideal food • Provides all needed nutrients for the first 4-6 months of life • Helps reduce colic, spitting up, and diarrhea • Protects against illnesses and allergies • Provides babies with their mothers’ immunity to disease • Helps guard against chronic disease • May increase cognitive development For mothers, breastfeeding: • Enhances confidence and self esteem • Helps the uterus return to shape faster • May reduce the risk of breast cancer • Helps weight loss occur more rapidly after pregnancy • Provides breast milk that is always warm, ready to use, and economical • May delay the return of menstrual periods For the breastfeeding mom and baby, breastfeeding: • Enhances mother-infant bonding • Is environmentally friendly and saves energy • Is easy and convenient, once established • Works best when dad, family, friends, and the community offer support Provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Customer Service |
