EFN

The results of a new study released on Monday show that breast-feeding could save almost 900 babies each year, as well as saving consumers billions of dollars. According to this recently released cost analysis, these results can be achieved if 90 percent of mothers in the United States breast fed their babies exclusively for the first six months of their lives. Many experts believe that breast-feeding can help to prevent hundreds of deaths and costly illnesses that affect babies each year. These illnesses include stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, childhood leukemia, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Breast milk is beneficial to a new baby for a pair of reasons. First, the antibodies contained in breast milk help young babies to fight infections better than babies who are not breast-fed. Breast milk has also been shown to affect a baby’s insulin levels, which can help prevent the development of diabetes and obesity later in life. Preventing the onset of these diseases can save millions of dollars in future medical costs and lost wages of a patient, as these are very serious medical issues.

As of the latest study, 43 percent of women reported that their baby received at least some breast milk during the first six months of life. However, only 12 percent followed the exact government guidelines of feeding a baby exclusively breast milk for the first six months.