The Benefits of Breastfeeding

Series Summary

There are several benefits to breastfeeding your baby. Not only does it establish a bond between mother and child but experiments have shown a mother's breast milk provides the most complete nutrition for a baby available. Breast feeding is the best way to ensure your child gets all the nutrients he or she needs including iron, fat and calcium and can also help the mother cope with post partum and engorgement.

This video series provides information, tips and techniques on how and when to breastfeed, how often, and when to begin weening you baby. It takes a step by step approach through the breast feeding period and shows ways to identify and avoid complications that may arise. You will learn what to expect from your baby in the early months and what types of foods to avoid.

Video Transcript

" Greetings. My name is Asma Hanif. I am a certified nurse midwife with a private practice in Baltimore, Maryland, and on behalf of Expert Village; this segment is on the benefits of breast-feeding. The benefits of breast-feeding your baby are varied. The most important thing to remember, however, is that even if you are able to breast-feed your baby for only a short period of time, your baby will experience numerous benefits from breast milk. Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water and protein that is needed for the baby’s growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do breast milk alternatives. The breast milk contains antibiotics, which helps protect infants from illness. Breast-fed babies are more able to fight off infection and disease, are sick less often and require your fewer visits to health care providers. On behalf of Expert Village, this is Asma Han if, thank you for watching. "