Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed your baby
Benefits of breastfeeding
Baby:
- Better cognitive and emotional development. Higher IQ
- Smarter baby
- Protect Against:
- Chest Infection
- Diarrhoea
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Obesity
- Diabetes
Mother:
- Bonding
- Protect Against:
- Post-delivery bleeding
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Type II Diabetes
Impact of not breastfeeding or supplementing with formula
- Far less nutrients for optimal growth & development than breastmilk
- Lack of protection from antibiotics and living cells
- Chance of contamination during formula production, transportation and preparation
- When compared with breastfeeding, formula feeding mothers and babies have increased health risk of above illnesses.
- Reduce breastmilk production as baby suckles less after supplementing with formula
Source: Hospital Authority Breastfeeding Promotion Subcommittee
Reference
- Victoria C.G. et al. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21st centry: epidemiology, mechanisms and lifelong effect. Lancet. 387:475-90.
- Horta B.L. Victora C.G. (2013) Long-term effects of breastfeeding: A Systemic Review. WHO.
- Chowdhury R. et al (2015). Breastfeeding and maternal health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatrica, 104" 96-113.
- How to Prepare Formula for Bottle-Feeding at Home (2007). WHO.