There are benefits for both mother and child when breastfeeding.

 Research shows that breastfeeding benefits the health of mothers by boosting the immune system.

• Breast milk is always fresh, perfectly clean, just the right temperature, and is the healthiest choice at the least cost!  It couldn’t be any easier for moms!

• Increased levels of Oxytocin from breast stimulation initiates postpartum uterine contractions, minimizing blood loss and encouraging uterine tone

• Because breastfed babies are healthier, statistics show that their mothers miss less work and spend far less money on unnecessary pediatric visits

• Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of certain types of cancer

• Breastfeeding women report psychological benefits such as increased self-confidence

• Breastfeeding increases the rate of weight loss in most nursing mothers

Experts estimate that 90% of the communication between people is nonverbal. Breastfeeding is an example of this type of nonverbal communication.  The act of breastfeeding "speaks" volumes to a baby in a language he or she understands. The sensory stimulation and close, skin-to-skin contact that breastfeeding requires translates into early social bonding and “acceptance”, baby's first positive lesson in self-esteem. As an LLL co-Leader once said, "Breastfeeding enabled me to tell my baby things with my body that they wouldn't understand with words for a long time to come."

•  Breastfeeding protects your baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems, and ear          infections
•  Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies
•  Breastfeeding may boost your child's intelligence
•  Breastfeeding may protect against obesity later in life
•  Breastfeeding may protect your baby from childhood leukemia
•  Breastfeeding may protect your baby from developing type 1 diabetes
•  Breastfeeding may protect preemies from high blood pressure later in life
•  Breastfeeding may lower your baby's risk of SIDS 
•  Breastfeeding may protect against osteoporosis later in life

•  Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of obesity and hypertension

•  Breastfeeding delays the onset of hereditary allergies

•   Breastfeeding helps the baby’s immune system mature, protecting the baby from viral, bacteria, and parasitic infections

•  Breastfeeding protects against developing celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and childhood cancers

Not Breastfeeding Increases the Risk to the Infant of:

• Ear infections                                                  • Childhood diabetes

• Gastrointestinal and diarrheal infections • Obesity

• Respiratory infections                                      • SIDS

• Childhood cancers                                          • Allergies