I gave a classroom tour to a pregnant mom who is very young. I was encouraging her to come in after the baby was born to breast feed or to feel free to send in breast milk and she looked at me as if I was crazy. She stated that breast feeding was gross and she was not going to do it. I was wondering if you could give me a few key facts about breast feeding that I could share with her when she comes back to enroll. Also is there a website I can go to get some information on why moms should breast feed?
Breast milk contains the ideal balance of nutrients for your baby. In addition, breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby and is inexpensive. Nutrients in breast milk are easily absorbed and digested by your baby, and breast milk contains immune factors that protect against illness. Breastfed babies have fewer allergies and ear infections, resulting in less missed worked for parents. Mothers who breastfeed lose pregnancy weight more easily and have a lower risk of reproductive cancers. For additional benefits of breastfeeding, visit http://www.health.state.ga.us/programs/nutrition/breastfeeding/benefits.asp or http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/.
Seema Csukas, M.D., Ph.D.