A Win-Win Situation

Breastfeeding is good for mom and baby. Although there are important health benefits for both, one of the most valuable is the special bonding that develops between mom and her new baby as they get to know each other.

But here are some of the proven advantages for breastfed babies and their mothers:

Fewer illnesses, faster recovery
The antibodies found in breast milk provide immunities that make it easier for a baby help to fend off illnesses such as colds and ear infections. So not only do breastfed babies tend to get sick less often, but when they do get sick, they get better faster than babies who are not breastfed. Premature babies who get breast milk have fewer gastrointestinal problems.

Long-term health benefits for baby
The positive effects of breastfeeding last well beyond babyhood. A study in the British Medical Journal reports that babies exclusively breastfed for six months important dividends of this intimate time were 43 percent less likely to become obese as children; if they were breastfed for more than a year, they were 72 percent less likely to be overweight. Another British study suggests that breastfed babies have a reduced risk for hypertension later in life. Brian Palmer, a dentist in Kansas City, Mo., found that breastfeeding reduces the risk of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea later in life. He theorizes that bottle nipples change the shape of a baby's mouth in early months and this can contribute to problems later.

Pounds off for Mom
Producing breast milk requires about 500 calories a day, contributing to a woman's weight loss and after her baby is born. "When I breastfed, the pregnancy pounds seemed to melt off" says Kate Nelson, mother three, from New York City.

Maternal health
Early studies indicate breastfeeding may decrease a woman's risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer. It also appears to protect against osteoporosis.