What are the main health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby?

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Last updated: July 28, 2025 • View editorial policy

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Health Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother and Baby

Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both mothers and babies, including reduced risk of infections, SIDS, diabetes, obesity, and various cancers, making it the optimal choice for infant nutrition whenever possible. 1

Benefits for Infants

Reduced Risk of Infections and Diseases

  • Infectious disease protection: Breast milk reduces rates of:
    • Otitis media (39-61% reduction) 1
    • Respiratory infections (22% reduction) 1
    • Gastroenteritis (40% reduction) 1
    • Diarrhea (30% reduction with exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months) 1
    • Lower respiratory tract infections (19% reduction with exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months) 1

Reduced Mortality Risk

  • SIDS prevention:
    • 40% lower risk with 2-4 months of breastfeeding
    • 60% lower risk with 4-6 months of breastfeeding
    • 64% lower risk with >6 months of breastfeeding 1
  • Infant mortality reduction:
    • 19-26% reduction in overall infant mortality
    • 40-51% reduction in neonatal mortality (7-27 days)
    • 19-21% reduction in postneonatal mortality 1

Long-term Health Benefits

  • Metabolic health:
    • Reduced risk of childhood obesity 1
    • Lower risk of developing diabetes 1
  • Neurodevelopment:
    • Better cognitive development outcomes 1
    • Protective effect on neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially in premature infants 1
  • Allergic conditions:
    • Reduced risk of atopic dermatitis (46% reduction) 1

Benefits for Mothers

Cancer Risk Reduction

  • Breast cancer: Significant reduction in risk 1
  • Ovarian cancer: Decreased risk 1
  • Endometrial cancer: Lower risk 1

Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health

  • Type 2 diabetes: Reduced risk 1
  • Hypertension: Lower risk 1
  • Cardiovascular disease: Decreased risk 1

Reproductive Health

  • Birth spacing: Improved natural spacing between pregnancies 1
  • Uterine health: More rapid return of uterine tone after delivery 1

Optimal Duration of Breastfeeding

  • Exclusive breastfeeding: Recommended for approximately the first 6 months of life 1, 2
  • Continued breastfeeding: Along with appropriate complementary foods for 2 years or beyond as mutually desired by mother and child 1, 2

Practical Considerations

Establishing Successful Breastfeeding

  • Early skin-to-skin contact after birth decreases risk of hypoglycemia 1
  • Frequent feeding on demand (8-10 times in 24 hours) helps:
    • Decrease newborn weight loss
    • Reduce need for supplements
    • Lower risk of clinically significant hyperbilirubinemia 1, 2

Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers

  • Hospital practices that support breastfeeding:
    • Early maternal contact with newborn
    • Rooming-in
    • Avoiding formula supplementation 1
  • Workplace accommodations are critical for continued breastfeeding success 1

Contraindications to Breastfeeding

  • Absolute contraindications:
    • Classic galactosemia in the infant 1
    • Maternal HIV infection (in developed countries) 1
    • Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or II infection 1
    • Untreated brucellosis 1
    • Suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease 1
    • Current alcohol and drug use/dependence 1
    • Certain medications (consult appropriate references) 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Inadequate support: Lack of professional support is a common reason for early cessation of breastfeeding
  • Early supplementation: Unnecessary formula supplementation can interfere with establishing milk supply
  • Returning to work: Full-time employment without adequate support is consistently associated with shorter periods of breastfeeding 1
  • Commercial discharge packs: Hospital discharge packs containing formula samples reduce rates of exclusive breastfeeding 1

Breastfeeding is recognized by all major health organizations as the optimal source of infant nutrition, providing unique benefits that cannot be replicated by formula feeding. The evidence strongly supports efforts to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding for optimal maternal and child health outcomes.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

2
Guideline

Breastfeeding and Pumping Guidelines

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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