April 6th, 2010

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby, Mom, and Economy.  It’s no secret that mother nature makes the best baby food. Breastmilk has long been hailed as the best way to feed a baby, and most pediatricians recommend breastfeeding exclusively for at least the first six months of a child’s life.

A recent study of childhood diseases compared the costs of those diseases now (with 12% of children breastfed through six months of age) and what those cost would be if 90% of those children were breastfed through six months of age.

While the cost savings was projected to be staggering, $13 billion and 911 lives, the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging Congress to set aside $15 billion to encourage women to breastfeed.  Although setting aside $15 million to save $13 million doesn’t make sense – the research is useful to show that there are monetary benefits to breastfeeding.

In addition to saving money, breastfeeding also helps with post-partum weight loss.  Babies who are breastfed are also less susceptible to certain illnesses, as mom’s antibodies are transferred to baby through the breastmilk.

As previously stated, $15 million set aside to get moms to breastfeed may be much. However, making women aware of the benefits of breastfeeding and spending some money on educating women could go a long way in saving lives.

Source:

Web MD

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