Benefits of Breastfeeding

There are significant health, economic, and social benefits of breastfeeding for both a mother and her infant. These benefits are inclusive of: proper and adequate nutrition; infant and maternal health; lower rates of infant mortality; lower economic burden; increased maternal self-esteem; and increased bonding amongst mother and infant.

Nutrition is an integral aspect of maternal and infant health. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recognized exclusive breastfeeding as the premier form of nutrition for all infants. Breast milk contains necessary vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and antibacterial factors. Not only do the aforementioned qualities of breast milk enhance health outcomes for all infants, but they also sustain infants born premature and/or with various ailments. Moreover, recent public health studies [conducted in the United States] have found that breastfeeding significantly lowers the risk of post-neonatal infant mortality. Furthermore, breast milk provides infants with “protection against ear infections, diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, bacterial meningitis, urinary tract infections, diabetes, lymphoma, chronic digestive diseases, and obesity” (Philipp & Jean-Marie 2007).

Breastfeeding also has numerous health advantages for mothers. Mothers who breastfeed have been found to have increased levels of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin stimulates uterine contraction decreases bleeding postpartum. In addition, Philipp & Jean-Marie (2007) state that women who breastfed significantly lowered their risk of developing uterine cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes in the future.

Evidently, breastfeeding is associated with multiple nutrition and health benefits for both mothers and their infants. Hence, it can be adeptly concluded that infants who are not breastfed experience more illnesses, doctor’s visits, and hospitalizations than their breastfed counterparts. It is to be noted that the aforestated health services are highly expensive. However, the incurrence of these costs can be diminished, if not eliminated, if mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants.