Health Department: Breastfeeding

Moms-to-be are faced with an important question - How do I feed my new baby? Many things effect how you will feed your baby: time, money, comfort and health are only a few. WIC encourages woman to breastfeed because of the many health benefits it provides to both mom and baby.

Breast milk gives your new baby all of the nutrition needed to be healthy. As the baby grows, the breast milk changes to fit their needs.

Breastfeeding also provides other benefits for your baby:

{Breastfeeding mother}

promotes early brain development
reduces the risk of allergies
protects against colds and ear infections.
lowers the risk for diabetes, heart disease and obesity later in life

Breastfeeding helps new moms to:

lose their baby weight
strengthen bones
lowers the risk of ovarian and breast cancers

WIC Nutritionists teach new moms how to breastfeed successfully. Two of the Chester County WIC nutritionists are certified Lactation Consultants (CLCs).They give information on:

what to expect the first days after birth
comfortable positioning
tips on how to relax and enjoy the experience

Breastfeeding your baby saves time and helps develop a close bond between mother and baby.

Breast pumps let a mother pump her milk and give it to the baby in a bottle. Breast pumps may be available to women who are returning to work or school, had a premature birth, or will be separated from their new baby for other reasons.

Encouraging new mothers to breastfeed their babies is a top priority at WIC! According to the Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding a baby for the first six months of life gives the baby the healthiest start he can get. Breastfeeding the baby until he is age one is also encouraged. WIC works hard to help our breastfeeding mothers reach that goal. Click on the links below for more information on breastfeeding.

Compare Breast Milk to Formula- Spanish Version