Alameda County breastfeeds!

One of the most effective ways a mother protects the health of her baby and herself is by breastfeeding. The Breastfeeding Program works to ensure all families and their healthcare providers, childcare providers, community, and public health services have support for breastfeeding to help all babies get the best start in life.

Why Breastfeed?

“The decision to breastfeed is a personal one, and a mother should not be made to feel guilty if she cannot, or chooses not to breastfeed. The success rate among mothers who choose to breastfeed can be greatly improved through active support from their families, friends, clinicians, health care leaders, employers, and policy makers.

Given the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of mothers and children, it is critical that we take action across the country to support breastfeeding.”

-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Executive Summary: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. Washington, DC; 2011]
 

What do doctors say?

• Medical experts recommend giving only breastmilk—no other food or drink, not even water—for the first six months of a baby’s life.
• Health care leaders across the world recommend continued breastfeeding for at least the first 1-2 years and beyond, as mother and infant choose.

Making the decision to breastfeed

• Every mom and baby is different and your breastfeeding journey will be unique to you. The first step is learning about breastfeeding.
• When you feed your baby breast milk you give them a healthy start that lasts a lifetime.
• Breastfeeding helps a mother’s health and healing after childbirth.
• Breastfeeding leads to lower risk of diabetes and cancer.

How Breastmilk Compares with Formula

• Breastmilk has hundreds of growth and immunity factors that formula can never have.
• Breastmilk changes over time to meet baby’s needs.