Benefits for baby

Breast milk is the only food specifically designed, by nature, to meet your baby's individual needs. Breast milk contains growth factors, hormones, the right balance of nutrients in a very easily digestible form (all 400+ of them), and is an important source of immune factors which can prevent infection and allergies. Breast milk provides perfect nourishment for your baby - a complete food source.

Breast feeding has been shown to:

• reduce risk of ear infection
• reduce risk of tummy upsets, wind, colic and reduce hospital admissions with diarrhoea and vomiting
• reduce risk of respiratory tract infection
• lead to less obesity
• lower the risk of childhood diabetes
• lead to less allergies and eczema and asthma
• lead to less cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Further, breast feeding is ideal for travelling as the milk is always sterile and available at the correct temperature.

Benefits for the mother

• Less premenopausal breast cancer
• Less ovarian cancer
• May be less uterine cancer
• May help in weight control
• Aids bonding with the baby

Benefits for the environment

• No manufacturing pollution, packaging or waste involved.
• Breast feeding delays the return of periods and therefore leads to less use of sanitary protection.
• Less nappies are required because bowel motions are much softer and  are more easily absorbed into the nappy. Therefore less changes are required..

Economic benefits

• No cost of formula milk
• Less bottle paraphernalia
• Less time off work - less childhood illness therefore less absent days off school/nursery and less absent days for mother at work.
• Less GP appointments
• Less pregnancies

Overall if all women breast fed for 3 months the NHS would save at least £35 million