Welcome to
American Breastfeeding Coalition

Dedicated to actively promoting and supporting breastfeeding
through nationwide education and outreach

BREASTMILK DOES A BABY GOOD!

BETTER BRAINS
The proteins and other building blocks of cow's milk are designed to meet the specific needs of
a growing baby cow -- to double its birth weight in a very short amount of time.
The building blocks in human milk are designed to meet the specific needs of a growing baby
human -- to develop the brain extensively in the first year of life.
Breastfed babies have higher IQs than artificially fed babies!

BETTER EYES
Breastfed babies have better vision than artificially fed babies!

BETTER MOUTH
Taking milk from a bottle and from a breast require very different sucking patterns.
Sucking at the breast develops jaw and face structure better.
Breastfed babies have less need for later orthodontia work!*

CLEARER EARS
Perhaps because the different sucking causes less fluid to end up in the middle ears of breastfed
babes, perhaps because the stronger sucking at breast develops the eustachian tubes (the tubes
running from ear to throat that drain the ears of fluid) better, perhaps because of the antibacterial
properties of breastmilk, or perhaps because of all of the above, breastfed babies are much less
likely to get ear infections than artificially fed babies!

HEALTHIER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Babies who are breastfed have fewer and less severe upper respiratory infections, less wheezing,
less pneumonia, and less influenza than artificially fed babies!

HEALTHIER HEART AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Breastfed babies may have lower cholesterol levels as adults, than artificially fed babies.
Heart rates are lower in breastfed babies than in artificially fed babies.

HEALTHIER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The intestines of a breastfeeding baby are flourishing with friendly bacteria, protecting baby from
all kinds of bad bacteria. This means less diarrhea and fewer gastrointestinal problems for
breastfed babies. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of Crohn's disease and ulverative colitis
as adults, than artificially fed babies!

STRONGER, MORE MATURE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Human milk is full of antibodies to help baby fight all kinds of illness. It also helps to develop
baby's own immune system faster, causing breastfed babies to fight off illnesses better, and respond to vaccines better, than
artificially fed babies.
Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing childhood cancer or diabetes.

HEALTHIER URINARY TRACT
Babies who are breastfed have fewer urinary tract infections than babies who are artificially fed!

HEALTHIER SKIN, KIDNEYS, AND APPENDIX
Breastfed babies have less incidence of allergic eczema than artificially fed babies!
Breastmilk has less salt and protein than artificial formula, making it easier on baby's kidneys!
Babies who are breastfed are unlikely to develop acute appendicitis!

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