10 Reasons to Breastfeed

10 Reasons to Breastfeed

August is National Breastfeeding Month. In recognition of the health benefits to women and infants, Dr. Lorna C. Shepherd shares10 Reasons to Breastfeed.

• Decreases incidence or severity of infectious diseases in the infant and fewer allergies are reported.
• Decreases rates of sudden infant death syndrome.
• Decreases rates of development of chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes later in life.
• Enhances neurodevelopment in the infant and improves cognitive development.
• Promotes mother-child bonding.
• Decreases postpartum bleeding in the mother.
• Enables more rapid uterine involution in the mother.
• Enables earlier return to pre-pregnant weight for the mother.
• It is economical for mothers & families dealing with other related costs of having a child!!
• It is simply the BEST nutrition for the infant!! Adequate nutrients in the right quantities, at the right temperature, and well absorbed by the infant.

Dr. Lorna C. Shepherd, Ed.D. R.D., L.D/N., is the Chair for the Union Institute & University Master of Arts Online Program Health & Wellness and Bachelor of Science Maternal & Child Health Program. Both of these programs offer a career path in human lactation. The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) sponsors National Breastfeeding Month to raise awareness of the health benefits to women and infants. This year's National Breastfeeding Month theme—Charting the Course Together—will focus on how we can use data and measurement to build and reinforce the connections between breastfeeding and a broad spectrum of other health topics and initiatives.

Union Institute & University is a national university with five academic centers located in: Hollywood, Florida, Cincinnati, Ohio, Sacramento and Los Angeles California, and Brattleboro, Vermont. To learn more, visit www.myunion.edu or call 800-861-6400.

###