Sponsored content For optimal nutrition and health benefits, breastfeeding is best The benefits of breastfeeding for both roughe bo you by Permanente Breastfeeding has been linked to higher 1Q sores later in ehildhood, redoced risk of diabetes and obesity, a lowered risk of certain infections and illnesses, fewer While not all women choose to breastfeed, and some women have difficulties breastfeeding dee to variou to breastfeed due to the long list of health benefits for Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. 1t has a nearly peefect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat everything your baby needs to grow, said De, Shannon Garton, Family Medicine Physician at Kaiser Perma nentes Edwards Medical Oflices. "And it's all prenided n a form more easily digested than infant formvula Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby ight off viruses and bacteria nfants who are not breastfed are associated with an increased ineidence of infectious morbidity, as well as elevated risks of childhood obesity, type 1 and type 2 Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants, It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat abetes, Jrekemia, and sudden infant death syadrome, everything your boaby needs to grow, said Dr. Shannon Garton, Family Medicine Physidan at Kaiser Permanente's ecording to a 2009 report in the journal Reviews in Edwards Medical Ofices. Obstetrics and Gynecology. For mothers, failure to breastfeed is associated with an inereased ineidence premenopausal breast cancer, owarian cancer, retained BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC Breastfeedinginpublik is legal and protected by ederal stational weight gain, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, and the metabolic syndrome in most states gives women the rnight DOCTOR RECOMMENDED The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastmilk as the optimal source of nutrients in term infants for the irst 6 months of life. The World Health Organization, the American College of Obstetricians nd Gynecologists and the United States Preventive Services also agree with this After 6 months, solid foods are introduced Exposinga breast tonurse in public is not indecent exposure, and you may breastfeed your baby anywhere that a mother is entitled to be fexcept in a moving cat where even a hungry baby must be secured inachild safety sead Your employer must also alow you to nurse durlng work breaks: dry care centers mat provide nursing facilties and nursing mothers are esempt from jury duty. 2 months of age, said Dr. Jeannine Benson, Internal Medieine Physician at Kaiser Pernmanente's Edwardsbreastmilk as the optimal source of nutrients in term Medical offices. "After 12 months it is a personal de i cision by the mother as to how long she contisues to The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend infants for the first 6months of life There are some myths about breastfeeding, too. Somerecommends getting a lactation consultant early on Sounee Dv.hon Gurtow Fwaily Medicime P wommen mistakenly think they can't breastfeed if they before giving up on breastfeeding. In addition to the bealth benefits and the bonding esperieneed by mother and baly, breastfeeding also has avesmal another trick up its sleeve: it burns calories, helping untru breasts, for example. Garton said that's some eases babies may be premature, have a birth defeet, or have other reasons which make breastseed ny women lose pregnancy weight faster Good nutrition, plenty of rest, and staying well hy- ing diffieuls. In these eases, there may be alternative A breastfeeding woman burns almost 20 calories todrated all belp, too. You ean get breast mik by handts to aid b make just an ounce of breast milk. If an infant eats or pump it with a breast pump. It may take a few days don't want to breastfeed in pablic, Some peefer the 9 to 30 ounees a day, that's anywhere between 380 eks for your haby to get used to beeast milk in a to 600 calories burned, Garton said. "It releases the bottle, so begin practicing early if you're going back hormone osytocin, which helps your uterus return toto work. Garton said. reast milk can be safely used aesibility of knowing that a father or any caregiver can botle-feed the baby any time. Women who ehoose not to breastfeed can opt for donat pre-pregnaney size and may reduce uterine bleeding within 2 days if its stored in a refrigerator. You can ed breastmilk or fornvulas. For infants having digestive "These types of formalas break down the proteins into more easly digestible ern. Many haistem int an option to use soy based formula If there is difficulty physician, freeze breast milk foe up to 6 months. Don't warm up issues, there are partially hydrolyned (digested) or Some women worry that babies might not be getting or thaw fronen breast malk in a microwave. That will de- rnough milk, or that their breasts aren't producing enouh. Garton said a good rule of thumb is that a bahy stroy some of its immune-boosting qualities, and it eause fatty portions of the breast milk to become super hot Thaw breast milk in the refrigerator or in owl of s wetting six to eight dupers a day is mal bely and gassy without a full allerg may do well with the partially hydrolyzed type, Garton said. "Also there is Nvoid supplementing your breast milk with formula, and never give your infant plain water, she said. Your ALTERNATIVES TO BREASTFEEDING body needs the frequent, regular demand of your baby's Ifa mother has trouble beeastfeeding doe to difficulties with tolerating fornsula, it should be diseussed with a nith latching, poor produetion or sore nipples, Garton KAISER PERMANENTE