Breastfeeding: What You Need to Know
Learn more about breast milk and its benefits.
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August Is National Breastfeeding Month! - National Breastfeeding Month is aimed at raising awareness around breastfeeding, addressing the obstacles of it and encouraging mothers to ditch formula if they can. Read more about breastfeeding, its health benefits and why Black women have the lowest breastfeeding rates in the U.S. — Kellee Terrell(Photo: GettyImages)
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Why is Breast Milk Better? - Breast milk contains the "perfect combination" of human fats, proteins and vitamins that are essential for your baby's development, not to mention are easier to digest, says the American Pregnancy Association. Also, breast milk contains leukocytes, living cells that are only found in breast milk, that help fight off infections in babies. But keep in mind, what you eat, your baby eats too. So try eating healthier. (Photo: GettyImages)
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How Long Should Moms Breastfeed? - If and how long you breastfeed is completely up to you, but the Academy of American Pediatrics recommends that babies should be fed breast milk for six months. After six months, mothers can breastfeed for a year or however long she likes. FYI: Solid food should only be introduced into a baby's diet at six months. (Photo: GettyImages)
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Health Benefits for Babies - Babies who are breastfed are more resistant to developing ear infections and other diseases during infancy. They are also less likely to develop juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and cancer before the age of 15. Also, babies who are breastfed have lower rates of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).\r(Photo: Blend/Getty Images)
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Health Benefits for Moms - Research suggests that mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop osteoporosis (bone thinning) down the road and are able to lose weight gained during pregnancy more easily and have a lower risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. Plus, breastfeeding helps your uterus heal and stop bleeding after you give birth. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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