It goes without saying that breast feeding is the most natural way to feed your baby, but even with the preponderance of evidence showing the many advantages of breastfeeding, some women are still unaware of what exactly the benefits are, both for you and for your baby. Consider the following benefits when deciding if you will breastfeed your baby:

• Babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives are significantly less likely to develop ea infections, respiratory illness, and diarrhea.
• Studies have suggested that babies who are breast fed have lower probability to have problems with childhood obesity.
• Breastfeeding develops a strong, natural bond between mother and baby. This, of course, is a significant benefit for both of you. There are perhaps no more intimate moments between a mother and her child that the close physical contact of breastfeeding affords.
• Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
• Breastfeeding can delay the onset of mom’s menstrual cycle. This is a natural aid in increasing the time between pregnancies.
• Breastfeeding can save your family hundreds of dollars each month. Savings include the cost of formula, bottles, and more. It can also potentially cause you realize savings in health care costs, as breast fed babies tend to have fewer health problems.
• Studies suggest that breast feeding mothers have fewer and less severe bouts of post partum depression.
• Breast milk, under normal circumstances, is always available. Breast feeding mothers do not need to worry about whether there will be something for baby to eat, and don’t have to carry bags full of formula and bottles.
• The risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is reduced by 50% at all stages of infancy for breastfed babies.

Clearly, there are numerous advantages to breastfeeding, for both the mother and the newborn infant. Many experts recommend breastfeeding your child for the first six months of her life before introducing other kinds of nourishment. After six months, your baby will be ready to start eating some solid foods, though you may still continue to breast feed her for one to two years after this.

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