World Breastfeeding Week Promotes Benefits for Mom, Baby

By Jessica Evins, R.N. (Certified Lactation Consultant)
    August 1-7 has been designated as World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated on these dates every year in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.
    Many medical authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, strongly recommend breastfeeding due to the numerous benefits for both mother and baby.
How does breastfeeding benefit the mother?
•    Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and may also lower the risk of osteoporosis.
•    With no special equipment to purchase and clean, breastfeeding saves time and money. 
•    Breastfeeding burns extra calories, so it can help new moms lose pregnancy weight faster.
How does a baby benefit from breastfeeding?
•    Breast milk contains an ideal mix of vitamins, protein and fat to help a baby grow.
•    Breast milk contains antibodies that help a baby fight off viruses and bacteria and can lower a baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies.
•    Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first six months have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses and bouts of diarrhea. It’s also been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity and certain cancers.
•    Some studies have linked breastfeeding to higher IQ scores in later childhood.
    In addition to the benefits breastfeeding has on mother and baby individually, it also helps them form a closer bond. The physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help a mother to bond with her baby.
    There are challenges associated with breastfeeding, but the benefits far outweigh those challenges. Even if a baby is breastfed for less than the recommended six months, doing so for a short time is better than not breastfeeding at all. 
    Jessica Evins is a Registered Nurse at Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge and also a certified lactation consultant. To speak with Jessica or any of Ochsner’s lactation team, call (225) 755-4448. To schedule an appointment with any of Ochsner’s women’s services team, call (225) 761-5200.