Eat Smart Be Fit | The University of Maryland

Feeding Your Baby: Breastfeeding

Some of the benefits of breastfeeding include:

Prevents your baby from getting sick	Breast milk helps protect your baby from some sicknesses including diarrhea, ear infections, and respiratory illnesses like pneumonia. Breastfed babies tend to be sick less often than babies that are fed formula.
Easier to digest	Breast milk is easier for your baby to digest and helps your baby absorb key nutrients.
Convenient	Breastfeeding can save you time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula or sterilize nipples and bottles.
Prevents childhood obesity	A recent study shows that breastfeeding may help prevent childhood obesity.
Gives you special time with your baby	Breastfeeding can help a mother bond with her baby. Physical contact is important for a newborn baby.
Weight loss after pregnancy	Studies have shown that breastfeeding mothers tend to lose more weight over the course of the first postpartum year.

A few other facts to know...

When you deliver your baby the first milk that the baby can eat is called colostrum. This helps protect your baby from infection and is easy for your baby to take in. This is the best food to give your baby at this stage.
After a few days, your milk will mature and the amount of milk you make will increase. Your milk supply will gradually grow to meet your baby's needs over the first 6 weeks.
You should nurse your baby anywhere from 8 to 12 times a day for 10 to 15 minutes per breast. The more you nurse, the more milk you will produce.
You will know your baby is getting enough milk if you change your baby’s diaper 4-6 times a day and your baby has 3-4 bowel movements a day.
Your baby will need breast milk or formula until he or she is a year old. Both provide important nutrients that are easier to digest. While solid foods will eventually replace breast milk or formula, your baby will still need these nutrients during the first year.