Benefits of Breastfeeding Newborns Emphasized this August – raccoonvalleyradio.com

Image courtesy of public health maps

Its National Breastfeeding Month and health officials believe breastfeeding newborns can help in a variety of ways.

Womens Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife at Greene County Medical Center Valerie Martin says a newborn can receive several benefits from breast milk. Babies can get better protection from allergies and eczema, have a reduced risk of some viruses, ear and respiratory infections, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, obesity later in life and a lower chance of diarrhea and constipation.

As for mothers who breastfeed, they have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, they can lose pregnancy weight faster by burning an estimated 500 calories per day, their bodies heal quicker after delivery and breastfeeding can save money on not having to purchase formula. Martin says the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends mothers exclusively breastfeed a newborn for six months.

And what that means is not starting any solids (foods) but only feeding breast milk for the first six months. And then they should continue to breastfeed their baby for at least one year for the optimal benefits.

Martin offers this advice to mothers deciding whether or not to breastfeed their baby.

The baby is learning as well. Watching for those hunger cues and not waiting until (the) baby is upset and crying. It will take a lot of effort in those first few days for both mom and baby to figure things out. But I always tell them, If you can get through those first two weeks, after that they are going to do really good.

To hear more from Martin listen to todays and Mondays Community State Bank in Paton Lets Talk Greene County program.

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Benefits of Breastfeeding Newborns Emphasized this August - raccoonvalleyradio.com