Day 11 Message For Parents
Mother's Milk
Most parents are aware that breast milk is best for their baby, but may not be aware that the benefits of breast feeding extend far beyond basic nutrition. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting nutrients that protect your baby from illness. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast feeding for the first six months. Another advantage of breast feeding is that it's as healthy for mothers as it is for babies. Not only does lactation continue the natural physiologic process begun with conception and pregnancy, but it provides many short and long-term health benefits to the mother. The full range of benefits that breast feeding offers are rarely emphasized in prenatal counseling by health care professionals and are all but ignored in popular parenting literature - but the latest research is quite clear and suggests that breast feeding: - Protects your baby from gastrointestinal trouble & respiratory problems
- Protects your baby from ear infections
- Can protect your baby from developing allergies.
- May boost your child's intelligence
- May protect against obesity later in life
- May protect your baby from childhood leukemia
- May protect your baby from developing type 1 diabetes
- May protect preemies from infections and high blood pressure later in life
- May lower your baby's risk of SIDS
- May protect the baby against osteoporosis later in life
- Helps the mother lose weight by burning up to 500 calories a day
- Can lower the mother's stress levels and reduce postpartum bleeding
- May reduce the mother's risk of some types of cancer
If the "pitter patter of little feet" is in your future, we encourage you to search online for the "benefits of breast feeding" and to get more information so that you can make a truly informed decision.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team | 
