Today, 69% of mothers initiate breastfeeding, mothers continuing to breastfeed after 6 months is 32%. Employed mothers, mothers
at home, mothers of premature or ill infants, and mothers in a variety of special situations choose breastfeeding because
of its numerous benefits.
Benefits of breastfeeding include increased intelligence,
protection against childhood infections, diabetes, liver disease, various cancers, allergies, immune system disorders, and
sudden infant death syndrome. Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced incidence of breast cancer and osteoporosis.
Mothers often explain that they initiate breastfeeding because of the benefits for their
baby, but they continue breastfeeding because they enjoy a special closeness with their breastfed babies.
As breastfeeding becomes more popular, mothers look to health care providers for assistance. Traditional mother-to-daughter
teaching and assistance is less available since there is a generation of grandmothers who primarily bottle-fed their babies.
Increased geographic mobility among extended families further decreases assistance available to new mothers.
For
more information on breastfeeding, please contact Lee or Tonya at 563-886-2226.
