Breast-Feeding Benefits for Babies and Moms Alike

January 14, 2008

Medical and nutrition experts recommend breast feeding for your baby’s optimal growth and development, but are you aware of the benefits to mom? Besides knowing your baby is well-nourished, you as a nursing mother obtain benefits from breast feeding as well:

• Breast milk doesn’t need preparation: no measuring, mixing or warming.
• Breast feeding may help regain your pre-baby figure. Some studies have shown that breast-feeding women experience greater weight loss than those who did not breast feed.
• Nursing your baby provides you with an opportunity to sit down relax every few hours.
• Women who breast feed have a lower risk of developing pre-menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

While breast feeding isn’t always possible for every mother and baby, the potential benefits make it worth discussing with your physician and a registered dietitian.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team