Canadian Breastfeeding Week

http://www.huronhealthunit.ca/health-topics/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-help-in-huron-county/featured-stories/

 A Healthy Start

    Breast milk gives your baby a healthy start in life.

Breastfeeding is normal for your baby

• Decreases risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Builds healthy eating habits
• Prevents diarrhea
• Increases protection against illnesses such as childhood diabetes
• Increases protection against ear, chest and stomach infections
• Promotes healthy brain and proper tooth development

Breastfeeding is normal for you

• Promotes bonding with baby
• Helps the uterus return to its normal size after birth
• Helps keep bones strong
• Helps to return to a healthy body weight
• Saves money and time
• Lowers the risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers

Breastfeeding has many more benefits to families and society as a whole.   Breastfed babies have less hospitalizations therefore reducing health care costs. Parents experience less absenteeism from work due to sick children. Breastfeeding is environmentally friendly- no formula containers filling up the landfills.
Our health unit joins the World Health Organization and Health Canada in recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Exclusive breastfeeding means your baby gets only breastmilk and no other food or drinks, including water.
Once your baby is six months old, we recommend adding iron-rich  solid foods and continue breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond. Health Canada recommends vitamin D infant supplements for all infants.