August is National Breastfeeding Month

August is National Breastfeeding Month. It's a good time to celebrate and support all the ways moms feed their babies. It’s also a great time to look at the reasons why breastfeeding is good for babies and moms.

Here’s why breastmilk is good for your baby

• It provides all the calories and nutrients a baby needs, including protein, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals.
• It contains infection-fighting proteins that help protect babies from ear infections, serious lung infections, and infections that cause vomiting and diarrhea. These proteins are also called antibodies.
• It is easier for babies to digest. Breast-fed babies tend to spit up less often.

Other benefits of breastfeeding

• Some research suggests babies who get only breastmilk during the first six months may be less likely to develop food allergies or diabetes.
• It is convenient and costs less than formula.
• It means you hold your baby close,  which is soothing for babies.
• Producing breastmilk burns extra calories, which may help you lose baby weight.
• It can help your uterus return to its normal size more quickly after delivery.
• It may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer.

Not all moms are able to breastfeed. If for some reason you cannot breastfeed, remember that formula fed babies grow and thrive, too. If breastfeeding is not an option, that's okay. If you can breastfeed, celebrate it! Moms who breastfeed and moms who use formula are both doing their best to nurture their babies.