• Health
  • Parenting

Top 5 reasons to breastfeed

Posted
Mother breastfeeding child
DID YOU KNOW THAT BREASTFEEDING . . .

1. Strengthens your bond with your baby.

2. Reduces the risk of breast, ovarian and other forms of cancer.

3. Can help you burn 500 or more calories per day, half of which are pulled from your fat stores.

4. Breastfed babies are sick less often. That’s means moms miss fewer days of work.

5. Breast milk is free!

WHY IT'S THE PERFECT FOOD

  • Babies receive complete nutrients and antibodies from breast milk.
  • Breastfed babies are hospitalized 10 times less often than formula-fed babies.
  • Your baby will feed on demand. You won’t have to worry about the clock.
  • Your earliest milk, called colostrum, contains antibodies to protect your baby. It’s liquid gold!
  • Your breast milk adapts to your baby’s needs.
IT'S A WORKOUT!

You burn more calories breastfeeding than jogging! See below:

670 calories                Spinning workout

500-650 calories        Breastfeeding

420 calories                Jogging

420 calories                High-impact aerobics

400 calories                Zumba

370 calories                Pilates

DID WE SAY IT'S FREE?

You can average more than $600 in savings in just six months:

Breast milk: $0
Formula: $630

BREASTFEEDING PROTECTS YOUR BABY FROM . . .

  • Allergies and asthma
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, called SIDS
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Chronic constipation
  • Colic and other stomach issues
  • Childhood diabetes and obesity
  • Ear infections and many other illnesses
SOURCE:
• Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County

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Related resources

    • Health
    • Parenting

    Bethesda Hospital East

    Breastfeeding Resource Center in Boynton Beach

    561-737-7733, ext. 84162 Website
    • Health
    • Parenting

    Breastfeeding Coalition of Palm Beach County

    Local information, resources and support for breastfeeding via email

    Website
    • Health
    • Parenting

    Beyond Breastfeeding

    Helpline - In collaboration with the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition, help is available for free to nursing families, expecting families and health care providers in need of support and information

    1-800-853-6614 Website
    • Other

    211 Palm Beach Treasure Coast

    A helpline providing information, assessment, referral, telephone counseling, crisis intervention and suicide prevention, as well as online chats from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

    2-1-1 Website