World Breastfeeding Week 2015 is August 1-7!
This year spotlights breastfeeding mothers at work.
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, most employers must offer breastfeeding moms:
- Reasonable break times to pump for up to 1 year after birth
- Space, other than a bathroom stall, to privately express breastmilk
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- Exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months
- Continued breastfeeding as foods are introduced
- Continued breastfeeding for 1 year or longer
Breastfeeding Benefits for Infants
| Condition | Estimated Risk Reduction |
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infections | 72% |
| Gastrointestinal Tract Infections | 64% |
| Necrotizing Enterocolitis | 58% |
| Celiac Disease | 52% |
| Sudden Infant Death Syndrome | 36% |
| Allergic Disease | 27-42% |
| Diabetes | 30% |
| Obesity | 15-30% |
| Otitis Media (Ear Infections) | 23% |
Breastfeeding Benefits for Mothers
- More rapid return of uterus to pre-birth size
- Decreased postpartum blood loss
- Increased loss of baby weight
- Reduced risk of:
- Postpartum depression
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Breast and ovarian cancers
For more information, see related articles and breastfeeding resources here:
- Tips for Breastfeeding in Public
- Breastfeeding Tips: Transitioning from Your Pregnancy Diet
- How to Clean and Sanitize Breast Pump Parts
- Breastfeeding: Your Guide to Pumping at Work
- Breastfeeding: Common Problems
