Breastfeeding
Postpartum Resources
Valley Women’s Health is a strong supporter of breastfeeding, however, we support whatever method you choose for feeding your baby.
EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING:
Exclusive breastfeeding means your baby gets all of her food and drink from breastfeeding and is recommended for the first 6 months of a baby’s life. Click here for an overview on the stages of lactation.
Benefits of breastfeeding:
- Breast milk has the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein, and minerals needed for a baby’s growth and development. As your baby grows, your breast milk changes to adapt to the baby’s changing nutritional needs.
- Breast milk is easier to digest than formula.
- Breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from certain illnesses, such as ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, and allergies.
- The longer your baby breastfeeds, the greater the health benefits.
- Breastfed infants have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Breast milk can help reduce the risk of many of the short-term and long-term health problems that preterm babies face.
- Breastfeeding triggers the release of a hormone called oxytocin that causes the uterus to contract. This helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly and may decrease the amount of bleeding you have after giving birth.
- Breastfeeding may make it easier to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy. Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
If you have questions or concerns about breastfeeding, please feel free to contact our nurses for help. For detailed information go to Breastfeeding Your Baby from ACOG. The following are links to breastfeeding support services:
American Fork Hospital Breastfeeding Support
