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4 Living Well
|
Simi Valley Hospital
&
M
O
M
B
A
B
Y
A gift of
health for
Nursing
provides
lifelong
benefits for
both mom
and baby.
Research studies, however, have
proved over and over again that the
benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh
those of formula for the vast majority of
mothers and their babies. Fortunately,
both the medical community and new
parents are once again embracing
this traditional, but very effective,
feeding option.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommends that moms breast-
feed exclusively for the first six months of
their baby’s life. (That means no formula
or other types of nutrition.) Furthermore,
the AAP says that breastfeeding should
continue through the first year of life,
supplemented by solid food beginning
at six months, and then as long as both
baby and mom are comfortable doing so.
Better for baby, better for you
Breastfeeding for even this brief amount
of time provides lifelong benefits for
both your baby and you:
•
Proper nutrition.
Breast milk
contains a perfect balance of vitamins,
DID YOU KNOW
that breastfeeding
offers a lifetime of health benefits to
both moms and babies? Babies who are
breastfed have fewer illnesses while they
are breastfeeding and a better immune
system for decades to come. As adults,
babies who were breastfed have sig-
nificant reductions in chronic illnesses,
including type 2 diabetes, heart disease
and GI (digestive) illnesses.
Babies who are fed breastmilk
have stronger bones and
are less likely to deal with
obesity. They also have
nearly a 50 percent
reduction in risk for
sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS).
Moms receive benefits
too! Women who breast-
feed have less of a chance
of developing hormone-related
breast and reproductive cancers later in
life. They also have a greatly reduced risk
of developing osteoporosis as they age.
Bonding for success
Breastfeeding isn’t easy, but it can be
easier when the natural progression
of bonding can take place. There is no
better way to begin this process with
your newborn than to experience skin-
to-skin bonding just moments after
delivery. This “golden hour” is a precious
time that provides a great opportu-
nity for breastfeeding instincts to be
switched on in both mom and baby.
The birthing program at Simi Valley
Hospital supports new moms with this
precious bonding time, as well as
the personalized lactation
education they need
to confidently and
successfully breastfeed
their babies.
History repeats
itself
For centuries, breastfeed-
ing wasn’t even a question; it
was the only option. When baby
formula came into widespread usage
in the 1950s, it gave mothers a viable
alternative for feeding. As is often the
case with trends, the traditional method
of breastfeeding suddenly felt outdat-
ed, and formula-feeding was king for a
few decades.