In the News
Breastfeeding is known to provide invaluable benefits for babies, but it also enhances the health of the mother. Understanding the benefits of breastfeeding can help moms get through early challenges, said Jenelle Ferry, M.D., a board-certified neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Florida. Breastfeeding “isn’t always easy right away, can take more work to start than formula feeding and requires a single parent doing the bulk of the feeding work,” said Dr. Ferry. Being aware of the benefits of breastfeeding can motivate you to keep going, she added. Among the many health benefits for mom are a reduced risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers as well as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. For those who had gestational diabetes, “greater than one to three months of lactation has been shown to decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes within five years after pregnancy by as much as 80%,” noted Dr. Ferry.
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