Breastfeeding

General information April 26, 2016

Breastfeed Longer: Every Month Matters!

Each additional month of breastfeeding helps create a stronger and healthier future for you and your baby.

Better for Your Baby

Protects your baby from obesity
Lowers the risk of your baby developing allergies
Easy to digest and full of the nutrients your baby needs
Protects your baby from getting sick and helps prevent ear infections
Lowers your baby’s risk of having diabetes, asthma and cancer

Better for You

Helps you lose weight – breastfeeding burns 500-700 calories a day
Protects you from iron deficiency and helps you feel stronger
Reduces your risk of getting cancer, including breast, uterine, ovarian and endometrial cancers
Reduces your risk of osteoporosis
Saves you hundreds of dollars that you would have to spend on formula

10 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby

Breast milk is your baby’s perfect food. It has all the right nutrients, in just the right amounts.
Breast milk is always ready.
Breast milk is constantly changing to meet the needs of your growing baby.
Breastfed babies don’t have as many earaches and allergies as babies who are fed formula.
Breastfed babies are sick less often than formula-fed babies.
Breastfed babies have less diarrhea and stomach trouble because breast milk is so easy to digest.
Breastfeeding helps you feel close to your baby.
Breastfeeding is free food for your baby.
Breastfeeding is easier because there is nothing to carry, measure or heat. It makes nighttime feedings and traveling with the baby much easier.
Breastfeeding helps you get back in shape and helps shrink the uterus back to its normal size.

General Information

La Leche League International

Find local breastfeeding support and healthcare providers
Legal information for breastfeeding moms
General information

kellymom

Personal and professional education materials
Parent forum
Reviews on breastfeeding books and supplies

Nursing Mothers Counsel (NMC)

Free over-the-phone assistance and home visits
womenshealth.gov
Women’s health information
Information about the benefits of breastfeeding
Links to additional resources and information

Your Right to Breastfeed: Laws and Regulations

The State of California requires that your employer support your breastfeeding when you return to work by giving you:

Time: You must be given unpaid break time to pump, or provide flexible work hours so that you are able to continue breastfeeding.
Space: A comfortable, clean and private space must be available for you to pump and store breast milk at work, or your employer must provide child care nearby so you can breastfeed during break and lunch.

If you do not have time or space to continue breastfeeding after you go back to work, talk with your employer about your rights. If your employer does not allow you to breastfeed during your work day, call 1-800-884-1684 to file a claim with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

For more information about your rights, visit www.breastfeedingworks.org