• Breastfeeding protects baby from sickness and germs that cause infection. Antibodies passed from a nursing mother to her baby can help lower the occurrence of many conditions, including: ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory infections and meningitis. Formula-fed babies are sick more often than breastfed babies and spend more time visiting the emergency room.
• Breastfeeding contributes to the infant’s immune system. Breastmilk increases the barriers to infection and decreases the growth of organisms like bacteria and viruses. Breastfeeding is particularly beneficial for premature babies.
• Breastfeeding your baby can protect them from preventable illnesses. Diabetes (Types 1 and 2), obesity and Leukemia/Lymphoma are all proven to be reduced in exclusively breastfed babies. Breastfed babies have fewer hospitalizations than formula-fed babies.
• Provides nourishment for your baby’s growth and development. Breast milk also naturally contains many of the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires. Formula companies have not been able to identify all of breast milk's more complex substances.
  
• Ease of Digestion. Breastmilk's components — lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat — are easily digested by a newborn's immature system.
• Preventing the development of allergies. Food allergies, asthma, eczema and other atopic diseases may be delayed or prevented in high-risk babies if they are breastfed for at least four months.
• Decreasing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While its not completely clear how breastfeeding reduces SIDS in infants, it is proven that breastfed infants don’t suffer from SIDS as much as formula-fed infants. It could be that because of its richness in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients, breast milk enhances faster development of the central nervous system in breastfed infants. Also, the frequent tactile stimulation of breast-feeding during the night may actually protect against SIDS.

Studies have shown other health advantages for breastfeeding mothers, including:

• Reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome. A recent study finds that breastfeeding reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome – a combination of health disorders that increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Metabolic syndrome affects up to 37 percent of U.S. women between the ages of 20 and 59.
• Minimizes maternal blood loss. Breastfeeding has been proven to reduce maternal blood loss at the time of delivery and helps the uterus shrink back down to size.
• Decreased risk of breast cancer. Breastfeeding reduces a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer. Research shows that the reduced risk is related to duration. That is, the longer a mother breastfeeds, the lower her risk of breast cancer.
• Decreased risk of ovarian cancer. During lactation, a woman’s estrogen levels are lower. Studies have shown that if less estrogen is available to stimulate the lining of the uterus, the risk of these tissues becoming cancerous is also lower.
• Lower risk of osteoporosis. Although calcium levels can be lower while breastfeeding, researchers have shown that after a mother is finished breastfeeding, her bone density increases to a level higher than that of a mother who has not breastfed.
• Promotes weight loss. Breastfeeding mothers tend to have an earlier return to their pre-pregnancy weight.
• Improves emotional health. Breastfeeding is good for the body and the mind. Experts say that breastfeeding mothers show less postpartum depression and anxiety than formula-feeding mothers. It also releases hormones into mom’s body that help her relax.
• Breastfeeding costs less. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics infant formula can cost more than $1,000 for the first year of baby’s life. A breastfeeding mother will save approximately $400 during the first year of breastfeeding.