Did you know that breastfeeding has numerous physical and mental health benefits for both mom and baby? As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week August 1 - 7, here are some interesting facts you may not know.

• Infants who are breastfed have reduced risks of:
  • Asthma
  • Obesity
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Sudden infant death syndrome
  • Ear infections
  • Diarrhea and vomiting 
• Breastfeeding can help lower a mother’s risk of:
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Breast cancer
• It helps promote weight loss for mom, burning about 500 extra calories a day
• Breastfeeding helps mother and baby bond because of the close physical contact involved
• It’s economical. Not only is breastfeeding free, it also reduces healthcare costs due to less illness overall and less hospitalization
• Breastfeeding is a non-polluting, non-resource intensive, sustainable and natural source of nutrition and sustenance 

We invite you to test your knowledge about breastfeeding by taking our Breastfeeding Quiz.

 San Juan Regional Medical Center is a Baby-Friendly® designated facility, which means we offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. This includes implementing and upholding the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeedingto establish a healthy breastfeeding relationship. Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and having babies room-in with their mothers are two important components. As a Baby-Friendly® designated hospital, we treat all mothers with dignity and respect regardless of their infant feeding decision.

We also offer comprehensive breastfeeding support services as a community benefit to all new mothers. These services include individual appointments with experienced lactation consultants along with classes, which can be found on San Juan Regional Medical Center’s website or by calling 505.609.2134.