The document outlines the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby, stating that breastfeeding provides babies with easy to digest milk containing antibodies that boost immunity, while also aiding weight loss and reducing cancer risks for mothers. Key facts presented include that breastfeeding lowers healthcare costs and misses less work for mothers due to healthier babies. The gold standard is exclusively breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond with appropriate complementary foods.

1. Breastfeeding:
Best for Both Mother and
Baby
HBHE 710
Colleen Jensen
Sarah Middlemas
Emily VonderPorten
Slide Background image source: http://flickr.com/photos/goetter/1353787707/

2. Did You Know?
• According to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), breastfeeding is ideal for
infants
• Both mothers and babies gain many
benefits from breastfeeding. (CDC)
Picture by Alexander Tundakov, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/tundakov/2550864384/

3. The Gold Standard:
• The “gold standard” of infant feeding is:
• Breastfeeding exclusively for six months
• Providing appropriate complementary
foods with continued breastfeeding for
up to two years or beyond

4. Amazing Breastfeeding
Facts for Baby:
• Breast milk is easy to digest and contains antibodies
that can protect infants from bacterial and viral
infections.
• Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective
against many illnesses, according to the La Leche
League (LLL), including:
– Painful ear infections, respiratory ailments, allergies,
intestinal disorders, colds, viruses, and Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS).
– Lifetime protection from insulin dependent diabetes, and for
girls, breast and ovarian cancer.
Picture by by dao hodac, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/hodac/308938750/

5. • When babies are born, their immune systems
are underdeveloped…
• Through breastfeeding, you pass your
antibodies on to your baby, helping to keep
your baby healthy and grow their immune
system faster than bottle-fed babies (LLL).
– Your body makes antibodies to the germs that
both you and your baby are exposed to. These
antibodies pass from you to your baby, protecting
your baby (LLL).

6. Amazing Breastfeeding
Facts for Mother:
• Research indicates that women who
breastfeed may have lower rates of certain
breast and ovarian cancers. (CDC)
• Breastfeeding delays the return of the
menstrual cycle. (USDHHS)
• Breastfeeding mothers have increased self-
confidence. (USDHHS)
Picture by Daquella manera, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/daquellamanera/2397006173/

7. • Breastfeeding uses extra calories, helping
mothers to lose weight after pregnancy.
(USDHHS).
• Breastfeeding saves time and money. There
is no formula to prepare or bottles to warm.
Picture by marjanhols . http://www.flickr.com/photos/afotografia/171237963/

8. Amazing Breastfeeding
Facts for Society:
• Breastfeeding mothers miss less work
because their infants are sick less often.
(USDHHS)
• Total health care costs in the United States
are lower for breastfed infants than for
formula fed infants. (USDHHS)

9. • Breastfeeding benefits the environment.
No packaging or plastic involved!
• The estimated cost of formula is $1200 per
year. Breast milk is free. (USBC)

10. FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Breastfeeding Blog
http://milkingmothers.wordpress.com
Breastfeeding Social Network
http://milkingmothers.ning.com