Dr. Elofson, Fakouri, Perilloux and Cook recommend breastfeeding your infant.
Breastfeeding your newborn is a natural and inexpensive way to provide a great start to life for your baby. There are definite nutritional benefits and, additionally, it promotes an emotional connection that is unique between the baby and mother. The first few days can be difficult because your newborn eats irregularly and may, at first, have trouble latching on. It takes perseverance and support from those around you to succeed. About 75% of new mothers start breastfeeding their baby at birth. As hospitals and medical professionals become more educated to the benefits, hospital routines and medical advice is becoming more supportive for our breastfeeding mothers.
Per American Academy of Pediatrics Breastfeeding Guidelines reaffirmed in 2012:
“Breastfeeding provides a protective effect against respiratory illnesses, ear infections, gastrointestinal diseases, and allergies including asthma, eczema and atopic dermatitis. The rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is reduced by over a third in breastfed babies, and there is a 15 percent to 30 percent reduction in adolescent and adult obesity in breastfed vs. non-breastfed infants.”
AAP Frequently Asked Questions about breastfeeding
La Leche Breastfeeding support in Baton Rouge