Breast milk alone is the ideal nourishment for infants for the first six months of life, and breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Breastfeeding provides antibodies that help protect infants from common illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia. It also improves vaccine effectiveness and is important for brain growth and development in the crucial first months of life. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of hospitalization, neonatal death, and juvenile diabetes in infants. For mothers, breastfeeding lowers the risks of breast and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis later in life, and can help with birth control and postpartum weight loss. Breastfed children and adults tend to have lower risks of health issues like high blood

1. Breastfeeding BenefitsBy Anita KumarSave A Mother

2. BreastfeedingBreast milk alone is the ideal nourishment for infants for first six months of lifeBreastfeeding is one the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival

3. Benefits for baby…It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses - such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

4. Benefits for baby…Improves vaccine effectiveness

5. Breastfeeding is considered…the 4th Trimester in Brain growth and development… there are specific proteins in human milk that produce brain development.

6. …less hospitalizedBreastfed babies are hospitalized 10 times less thanformula fed infants in the first year of life

7. Prevents neonatal deaths 16% of neonatal deaths could be prevented by increasing the proportion of infants that receives breast milk within24hrs of birth

8. Prevents Juvenile Diabetes 34 % less likely to develop juvenile, insulin-dependentdiabetes than children who are fed formula.

9. Breastfeeding benefits for momReduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in lifeLess likely to develop osteoporosis later in life

10. Breastfeeding benefits for momBreastfeeding is a form of birth control found to be 98percent EffectiveHelps a mother to lose pregnancy weight

11. Breastfed Children & Adults are…often have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and type-2 diabetes.3.2 % smarter than those who are not

12. Breastfed Children & Adults are…have fewer dental cavitiesthroughout their liveslower rates of overweight and obesity.

13. Breastfeeding reduces…global pollution-decreases use ofresources and energy required to produce and dispose materials created for artificial baby milkmedical expenses and insurance claims for children because breastfed children are less ill

14. Percentage of infants 0–5 months old exclusively breastfed (2000–2007)Sources by www.Childinfo.org

15. Breastfeeding around the world19 countries throughout the developing world increased exclusive breastfeeding rates by 20 percentage or moreCambodia, Peru, and Sir Lanka have the highest percentage of exclusivelybreast feeding mothers at or under 6 months of ageUNICEF global databases 2010, from MICS, DHS and other national surveys.Latest trend in breastfeedingExclusive breastfeeding rates have increased in most regionsAbove is the trends in the percentage of infants under the age of six months who were exclusively breastfed, around 1995 and around 2008 www.childinfo.org

16. Globally less than 40% of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.

17. Breastfeeding support…In 1991 UNICEF and WHO launched the baby friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) as a way to encourage hospital worldwide to adopt the steps to successful breastfeeding.

18. There are now more than 20,000 baby-friendly facilities in 152 countries thanks to WHO-UNICEF initiative.

19. Health facilities that support breastfeeding- by making trained breastfeeding counselors are available to new mothers-encourage higher rates of the practice.Save A MotherSave a Mother. Save a Family. Save a Community saveamother.org2011