While it is not a new practice, advocates around the world strive to promote breastfeeding for the benefits it brings to both the child and the mother during Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only one in four infants is exclusively breastfed as recommended by the time they are six months old. CDC also states that low rates of breastfeeding add more than $3 billion a year to medical costs for the mother and child in the United States.

Nurse Carol Detweiler with Washington County Public Health mentions some of the benefits of breastfeeding, “There are many benefits and there might be even some things that we don’t actually know yet, but one thing that is identified is that breast milk is a lot easier to digest and it’s really good for the intestinal system, it coats the intestines and helps prevent allergies. Infants, they’re shown to have fewer ear and respiratory infections. It can protect against sudden infant death syndrome, infants usually have less problems with diarrhea, pneumonia and they’re even doing studies that show it protects against cancer and diabetes to breastfeed your infant.”

Benefits for mothers include it can help lower their risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. Those looking for breastfeeding counseling or other resources can reach Detweiler at 319-653-7758.