The US Surgeon General has recommended that babies be fed only breast milk for the first six months of life, but the new study found that even when women breastfed for shorter periods of time than the recommended six months, their risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer was reduced if they had a first-degree relative who had had breast cancer. This is exciting news for women with a strong family history of the disease.
Benefits to the pocketbook can be substantial, and in today’s economy, this may be an important deciding factor on whether or not to breastfeed. It is estimated that breastfeeding can save as much as $3900.00 per year, a figure that is substantial by most people’s standards.
There are benefits to breastfeeding your baby that cannot be measured in dollars and cents, such as the sense of satisfaction that many women experience, derived from being their baby’s sole source of nourishment. Many women also feel a strong sense of bonding through nursing their newborn. The health benefits of breastfeeding are just icing on the cake compared to these.
Related Links:
Ÿ Unicef Promotes World Breastfeeding Week from Health Guru
Ÿ How Breastfeeding Benefits You and Your Baby from BabyCenter
The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding: A Review and Analysis from the USDA
