How breastfeeding benefits you and your baby

Highlights
Breastfeeding protects your baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems, and ear infections
Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies.
Breastfeeding may boost your child’s intelligence
Breastfeeding may protect against obesity later in life
Breastfeeding may protect your baby from childhood leukemia
Breastfeeding may protect your baby from developing type 1 diabetes
Breastfeeding may protect preemies from infections and high [...]

How to start breastfeeding

The first time you hold your newborn in the delivery room, put his lips to your breast. Your mature milk hasn’t come in yet, but your breasts are producing a substance called colostrum that will help protect your baby from infection.
Try not to panic if your newborn seems to have trouble finding or staying on [...]