Nutritional Benefits to Babies Who Breastfeed
- Provides most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
- Keeps pace with infant’s growth and changing nutritional needs
Health Benefits:
- Protects against stomach upsets, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, allergies, asthma, meningitis, childhood lymphoma, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Reduces risk of childhood diabetes and SIDS
- Increases bone density
- Reduces risk of heart disease later in life
Developmental Benefits:
- Develops higher IQ’s
- Improves brain & nervous system development
Emotional Benefits:
- Improves emotional development
- Promotes special warm bonding & emotional relationship with mom
Health Benefits to Moms Who Breastfeed:
- Protects against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life
- Reduces risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers and anemia
- Helps return mom’s body to its pre-pregnancy state faster
Cost Benefits:
- Breast milk is free, thus reducing or eliminating the cost of formula
- Breastfed babies are sick less, thus reducing healthcare costs to family and requiring less time-off from work
Emotional Benefits:
- Promotes special emotional relationship and bonding with baby
Benefits to the Environment & Society
- Reduces cost of healthcare by promoting healthier moms & babies
- Reduces insurance premiums for both parents & employers
- Reduces tax burden on communities & government to ensure children are properly fed
- Reduces absenteeism in the workplace due to children’s illness
- Reduces global pollution by decreasing the use of resources and energy required to produce and distribute materials created by the manufacture & use of artificial baby milk
Breast Pump Rental
We offer breast pumps and hospital grade rental pump free of charge to WIC participants. Macoupin County residents may rent a hospital-grade breast pump for a nominal fee. Please contact Macoupin County Health Department for more information.
For further information on breastfeeding or services we provide contact:
Jennifer Swank, CLC
(217) 854-3692
(217) 313-5073