Extensive medical research indicates that breastfeeding has many benefits for both babies and mothers.  Even if you are able to do it for only a short time, your baby's immune system can benefit from breast milk.

Benefits for Babies

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants.  It has just the right amounts of nutrients needed for a baby's growth and development.  Also, most babies find breast milk easier to digest than formula.
• Breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should and tend to gain less unecessary weight, both as infants and later in life.
• Breastfed infants are statistically less likely to have common infant infections, such as ear infections, than formula-fed babies.
• Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born prematurely.

Benefits for Mothers

• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy and get the uterus back to its original size.
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Breastfeeding helps mothers and babies to bond.  Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.