Breast milk alone is the ideal nourishment for infants for the first six months of life, and breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Breastfeeding provides antibodies that help protect infants from common illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia. It also improves vaccine effectiveness and is important for brain growth and development in the crucial first months of life. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of hospitalization, neonatal death, and juvenile diabetes in infants. For mothers, breastfeeding lowers the risks of breast and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis later in life, and can help with birth control and postpartum weight loss. Breastfed children and adults tend to have lower risks of health issues like high blood

1. Breastfeeding BenefitsBy Anita KumarSave A Mother

2. Breastfeeding Breast milk alone is the ideal nourishment for infants for first six months of life Breastfeeding is one the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival

3. Benefits for baby… It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses - such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

4. Benefits for baby… Improves vaccine effectiveness

5. Breastfeeding is considered… the 4th Trimester in Brain growth and development… there are specific proteins in human milk that produce brain development.

6. …less hospitalized Breastfed babies are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life

7. Prevents neonatal deaths 16% of neonatal deaths could be prevented by increasing the proportion of infants that receives breast milk within 24hrs of birth

8. Prevents Juvenile Diabetes 34 % less likely to develop juvenile, insulin-dependent diabetes than children who are fed formula.

9. Breastfeeding benefits for mom Reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in life Less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life

10. Breastfeeding benefits for mom Breastfeeding is a form of birth control found to be 98 percent Effective Helps a mother to lose pregnancy weight

11. Breastfed Children & Adults are… often have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and type-2 diabetes. 3.2 % smarter than those who are not

12. Breastfed Children & Adults are… have fewer dental cavities throughout their lives lower rates of overweight and obesity.

13. Breastfeeding reduces… global pollution-decreases use of resources and energy required to produce and dispose materials created for artificial baby milk medical expenses and insurance claims for children because breastfed children are less ill

14. Percentage of infants 0–5 months old exclusively breastfed (2000–2007) Sources by www.Childinfo.org

16. Globally less than 40% of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.

18. There are now more than 20,000 baby-friendly facilities in 152 countries thanks to WHO-UNICEF initiative.