When preparing for a new baby, parents face many decisions, including how to feed their child. As August marks National Breastfeeding Month, Western Wisconsin Health is highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding for infants, parents, and communities.
Breast milk offers several advantages that formula cannot match. Infants benefit both in the short and long term. Early skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding can help stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce crying and stress during painful procedures, and improve heart rate and breathing in late preterm infants. Studies have shown that breast milk transfers maternal antibodies to babies, helping protect them from illnesses such as stomach bugs, respiratory infections like RSV or COVID-19, ear infections, and urinary tract infections (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37643989;https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-lookup/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-057989;https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40265740;https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38986006;https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31533753). Research also indicates that breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21669892). Long-term benefits may include protection against inflammatory bowel disease, cavities, asthma, type 1 diabetes, allergies, obesity, celiac disease, type 2 diabetes, and leukemia (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40240318;https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33831944).
For breastfeeding parents, immediate health effects include a lower risk of postpartum blood loss and delayed return of menstruation after childbirth. Some studies suggest it may also decrease the risk of postpartum depression and assist with weight changes after birth (doi:10.1016/j.nwh.2021.06.005; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26172878). Over time, breastfeeding has been linked to reduced risks for certain cancers—such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer—as well as decreased chances of developing heart disease or type 2 diabetes (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000961?urlver=Z39.88-2003&rfrid=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfrdat=crpub%20%200pubmed; https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article-lookup/doi/10.2337/dc25-S015).
Economic considerations are significant for families choosing how to feed their infants. Formula costs can exceed $1200 per year for generic brands and reach up to $3000 for name-brand or specialty formulas required for medical needs or sensitivities. Bottles and nipples add further expenses.
Globally, optimal breastfeeding practices—exclusive breastfeeding until six months old followed by continued breastfeeding up to at least two years—could prevent nearly 600,000 deaths each year among children aged six months to five years due to diarrhea or pneumonia (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31236559). Additionally, these practices could avert about one million cases of childhood obesity annually and nearly 100,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer, ovarian cancer or type 2 diabetes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34973827). Preventing these illnesses could save almost $350 billion in global healthcare costs each year.
Many health benefits persist whether parents choose direct nursing or bottle-feeding expressed breast milk—though bottle-feeding may involve additional costs such as pumps—and is sometimes preferred if other caregivers are involved or if the parent returns to work.
Western Wisconsin Health provides support through lactation services led by four experienced consultants available on weekdays to assist with various challenges related to breastfeeding such as latch issues or supply concerns. Appointments can be scheduled online at www.wwhealth.org/appointments/, via email with Women’s Health Care Coordinator Kayla Lombard at kayla.lombard@wwhealth.org or by calling 715-684-1458.
A free support group called The Lactation Circle meets on the first and third Wednesday each month at the WWH Fitness Center playroom from 10am-noon.
“At Western Wisconsin Health, we understand that every family’s feeding journey is unique, and we are here to support it,” a statement from Western Wisconsin Health reads. “Our experienced team of lactation consultants provides compassionate expert care to help guide breastfeeding parents through every stage whether they’re nursing directly or bottle-feeding expressed milk.” The organization adds: “As your local partner in wellness Western Wisconsin Health is proud to champion healthier beginnings because when we support families from the very first days we build a stronger healthier community for everyone.”
