The Department of Health has launched a new campaign to communicate infant health info in plain language - and you guessed it, breastfeeding ranks highly in their focus.
More information is at http://www.nhs.uk/start4life but here is their run-down
Babies who are breastfed have a smaller chance of:
- Developing eczema
- Getting ear, chest and tummy bugs and have to go to hospital as a result
- Being fussy about new foods
- Being constipated
- Being obese and developing diabetes when they are older
There are advantages for mums who breastfeed too:
- Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer
- Breastfeeding naturally uses up about 500 extra calories a day so mums who breastfeed often find it easier to lose their pregnancy weight
- It saves money - formula feeding can cost as much as £45 a month
- It's a lot less hassle - there is no need to clean and sterilise bottles, boil kettles and wait for the milk to cool every few hours during the day and night
I'm worried about the baby in this image - I think maybe he needs some breastfeeding support for latch problems?
Start4Life: the most up-to-date advice on breastfeeding, introducing solid food and active play, and tips on how to use them to give your baby a better start in life.
