Over 100 Reasons To Choose the Breast This World Breastfeeding Week
Breastfeeding makes the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” all too real.
The success of breastfeeding isn’t just reliant upon mom & baby, but upon mom’s support system as well. Partners, family, doulas, healthcare, the workplace, and even the government play a role in the success of breastfeeding. All of these people are working together for the common good of the next generation.
Celebrating its 25th year, World Breastfeeding Week is nurturing this idea of working together and has themed 2017 as the year of “working together for the common good.”
As a mother who breastfed both of her kids, this topic hits right home. I know first hand how grueling breastfeeding can be and how important it is to have a support system in place.
For this reason, I have carefully collected a comprehensive list of over 100 benefits that breastfeeding provides not only for babies and moms but our society as a whole. If you are questioning your choice to breastfeed or thinking about calling it quits, keep reading and take a look at our infographic below for some reassurance about why your effort is worth it.
It’s The Best For Babies
Breast milk is so much more than food for baby. Breastfeeding provides babies with comfort warmth and security. Breast milk also has amazing health benefits for babies, including the fact that it’s full of antibodies, which help fight off viruses and bacteria.
But the benefits of breastfeeding don’t stop after your baby is weaned. Breastfeeding has some serious, long-term benefits, including reduced risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and overall risk of cancer.
If we work together to help moms provide their babies with the absolute best, we will be enhancing the survival, health, and well-being of the next generation on which our planet will soon rely on.
Moms Love It Too
Breastfeeding doesn’t only provide amazing health benefits for babies, but for moms as well. It’s been shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast and ovarian.
Breastfeeding moms also gain their pre-pregnancy body back quicker, as breastfeeding burns calories and helps shrink the uterus back down to its original size. Not to mention all the money you’ll save by not having to buy formula.
Breastfeeding For the Common Good
Maybe you already knew about the benefits for babies and moms, but have you thought about how your decision to breastfeed could impact society and the environment?
By working together to get more babies on the boob and less on bottles, we will have less air and landfill pollution, as creating formula is a particular waste intensive process. We will also be dealing less medical expenses as a whole, as breastfeeding not only prevents a variety of illnesses and diseases but also has been correlated with higher workplace productivity and lower rates of absenteeism.
As you can see, your decision to breastfeed doesn’t just end with you and your baby. It has the potential to help save lives, money and the planet, which is why us moms need to work together and support one another to sustain breastfeeding for a brighter tomorrow.
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