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Breastfeeding may have many benefits for baby and parent. Among other health conditions, it helps protect against asthma, ear infection, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The practice may also help reduce the chances of developing diseases like type 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia (a type of blood cancer), eczema (a condition that causes inflammation and rashes on the skin), and lower respiratory tract infections. Research also suggests that the practice may benefit parents who breastfeed by lowering the risk of both breast and ovarian cancers.
At the same time, breastfeeding may pose some challenges. Here are some tips to make the process easier from Erin Young, MD, a primary care physician in Big Rapids, Michigan.
Sources: Office on Women’s Health. Making the Dec... + 14
- Office on Women’s Health. Making the Decision to Breastfeed. October 23, 2025.
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- HealthyChildren.org. Why Breastfeed. August 31, 2022.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Breastfeeding Benefits (pdf). October 2020.
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- La Leche League International. Tongue and Lip Ties. Accessed June 15, 2026.
- HealthCare.gov. Breastfeeding Benefits and Coverage. Accessed June 15, 2026.
- La Leche League International. Frequency of Feeding Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed June 15, 2026.
- La Leche League International. Positioning and Latch. Accessed June 15, 2026.
- La Leche League GB. Nipple Pain. 2021.
- La Leche League International. Oversupply. August 13, 2024.
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- Committee on nutrition; section on breastfeeding; committee on fetus and newborn. Donor Human Milk for the High-Risk Infant: Preparation, Safety, and Usage Options in the United States. Pediatrics. 2017 Jan;139(1):e20163440.
