A is for Asthma: Breastfeeding reduces the risk of recurrent wheezing. A is also for Antibodies: Antibodies are only present in breast milk and help your baby fight off viruses and infections.

B is for Bioavailability: Breast milk contains enzymes that aid in absorption. 100% of protein, iron and zinc are absorbed in breast milk; where as 50% of cow milk formula is passed as pure waste.

C is for Crohn’s Disease: Breast milk fights against Crohn’s disease by forming a protective barrier on mucous membranes in your baby’s intestines. Breast milk is easily digested and easier on your baby’s digestive tract.

D is for Diabetes: Early introduction of dairy products (formula is a dairy product) at an early age increases your baby’s risk for insulin dependent diabetes.

E is for Equipment: There is no equipment you need to fumble with while breastfeeding, allowing you to feed your baby faster! This reduces the incidence of fussiness and crying.

F is for Fat: Breastfed babies are at a lower risk for obesity later in life.

G is for Guts: Breastfed babies are less susceptible to gastrointestinal infections.

H is for High blood pressure: Formula fed babies are more likely to have higher blood pressure.

I is for Infections: Breastfeeding protects against diarrheal infections.

J is for Jaundice: Breast milk aids in the passing of meconium thereby lowering your baby’s risk for jaundice.

K is for leuKemia: Breastfeeding lowers the risk for leukemia and lymphomas in your baby.

L is for Lungs: Breastfeeding protects against respiratory infections.

L is also for Leptin: Breastfed babies have more leptin in their systems, which regulates their appetite and fat.

M is for Meningitis: Breastfeeding provides protections against bacterial meningitis.

N is for NICU: Preterm milk is specifically designed for premature infants. Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit depend on breast milk to get stronger and healthier.

N is also for NEC:  Necrotizing Enterocolitis is less likely to occur in breast fed babies, and those babies who develop NEC depend on breast milk to recover.

O is for Otitis Media: Otitis Media (ear infection) is 3-4 less likely in breastfed babies.

P is for Perfect: Breast milk is perfection for your baby because it is species-specific, and contains the right proportions of fats, carbs, and proteins at every stage of development. For instance, when your baby is 40 weeks, the breast milk you produce is for a 40 week old infant. When your baby is 6 months, your breast milk is specifically designed for a 6 month baby. If you deliver prematurely, the breast milk you produce is specifically tailored to the premie. Breast milk evolves in nutritional content as time goes by. Formula remains static at all times.

Q is for IQ: Scientific studies prove better cognitive, academic and speech outcomes from early and prolonged breastfeeding.

R is for Reactions to Allergies: Formula fed babies have increased allergies to due early cow’s milk exposure.

S is for Secretory IGA: Secretory IGA is an immunoglobulin that aids in the development of the immune system, providing your baby with immunity against disease. Secretory IGA is not present in formula.

T is for Tasty: Human milk is remarkably sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland. Breast milk helps acculturate infants to different food flavors, making them less picky eaters in the future.

U is for Urinary Tract Infections: Breastfeeding reduces the risk of urinary tract infections in your baby.

V is for Vision: Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically DHA, in breast milk play a key role in structure and function of neural tissues, most notably the brain and the retina. These same fatty acids also aid tremendously in brain development!

W is for jaW development: Breastfeeding aids in the mechanics of jaw and speech development. It requires 60x more energy for a baby to suckle, swallow and breathe at the breast than drinking from a bottle.

X is for X-RAYS: Breastfeed babies have increased bone mineralization, making for stronger bones.

Y is for YOU: Because your little baby deserves only the BEST nutrition from the start and only YOU can provide it to them!

Z is for ecZema: Breast milk reduces the chance of eczema in your baby.

Z is also for Zinc and Iron, which is more easily absorbed in the breastfed baby.

References:

A. Gartner, L. M., Morton, J., Lawrence, R. A., Naylor, A. J., O’Hare, D., Schanler, R. J., & Eidelman, A. I. (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 115(2), 496-506. http://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/faqsbreastfeeding.html

B. Else-Quest, N. M., Hyde, J. S., & Clark, R. (2003). Breastfeeding, bonding, and the mother-infant relationship. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly (1982-), 495-517. —-Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland.: Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30

C. Narod, S. A. (2002). Modifiers of risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer, 2(2), 113-123. Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al. Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 1994; 330 81-87.  Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994 “Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer”. Epidemiology 5:324-331 Petterson B, et al.  “Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma”.  Acta Obstst Gyneocol Scand 1986;65:247-55

D. Kennedy, K. I., & Visness, C. M. (1992). Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea. The Lancet, 339(8787), 227-230.  D. Kennedy, K. I., & Visness, C. M. (1992). Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea.  The Lancet, 339(8787), 227-230.

E. N/A

F. Bartick, M., & Reinhold, A. (2010). The burden of suboptimal breastfeeding in the United States: a pediatric cost analysis. Pediatrics, 125(5), e1048-e1056.

G. Jatsyk, G. V., Kuvaeva, I. B., & Gribakin, S. G. (1985). Immunological protection of the neonatal gastrointestinal tract: the importance of breast feeding. Acta Paediatrica, 74(2), 246-249.

H. Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. “Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity.” Br J Ovstet Gynaecol 1994; 101: 804-805

I. Igumbor, E. O., Mukura, R. D., Makandiramba, B., & Chihota, V. (2000). Storage of breast milk: effect of temperature and storage duration on microbial growth. The Central African journal of medicine, (46), 247-51.

J. http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/mbr.htm

K. Van Acker, J., de Smet, F., Muyldermans, G., Bougatef, A., Naessens, A., & Lauwers, S. (2001). Outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis associated with Enterobacter sakazakii in powdered milk formula. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 39(1), 293-297.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/27/enfamil-recall_n_1171915.html  http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/m/melamine/index.html

L. Wright, A. L., Bauer, M., Naylor, A., Sutcliffe, E., & Clark, L. (1998). Increasing breastfeeding rates to reduce infant illness at the community level. Pediatrics, 101(5), 837-844.http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/101/5/837.short

M. N/A

N. Ball, H. L. (2003). Breastfeeding, bed‐sharing, and infant sleep. Birth, 30(3), 181-188.

O. Lopez, J. M., González, G. I. L. B. E. R. T. O., Reyes, V., Campino, C., & Diaz, S. (1996).

Bone turnover and density in healthy women during breastfeeding and after weaning.

Osteoporosis International, 6(2), 153-159.

P. Else-Quest, N. M., Hyde, J. S., & Clark, R. (2003). Breastfeeding, bonding, and the mother-infant relationship. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly (1982-), 495-517. —-Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland.: Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30

Q. N/A

R. Naylor, A. J. (2001). Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative: Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding in the twenty-first century. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 48(2), 475-483.

S. Ford, R. P. K., Taylor, B. J., Mitchell, E. A., Enright, S. A., Stewart, A. W., Becroft, D. M. O., … & Roberts, A. P. (1993). Breastfeeding and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.  International journal of epidemiology, 22(5), 885-890.

T. N/A

U. Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. “Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity.” Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805

V. Saarinen, U. M., Siimes, M. A., & Dallman, P. R. (1977). Iron absorption in infants: High bioavailability of breast milk iron as indicated by the extrinsic tag method of iron absorption and by the concentration of serum ferritin.  The Journal of pediatrics, 91(1), 36-39.

W. Kramer, F., “Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat.” J. Am Diet Assoc 1993; 93(4):429-33

X. Melton LJ, Bryant SC, Wahner HW, et al. “Influence of breastfeeding and other reproductive factors on bone mass later in life.” Osteoporos Int. 1993;22:684-691

Y. N/A

Z. Ball, H. L. (2003). Breastfeeding, bed‐sharing, and infant sleep. Birth, 30(3), 181-188.