NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THAT PUMPING CAN HELP EXTEND INFANT BREASTFEEDING

According to the CDC, breastfeeding has health benefits for both babies and mothers. Breast milk provides a baby with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development. Per a new research study, the benefits of breastfeeding can be significantly extended by breast pumping. Breast pump. AMAZON.COM The study from Yale School of Medicine revealed that individuals who used pumps provided breast milk to their infants for an average of 21 weeks longer than those who did not pump. This is particularly encouraging given the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. Both agencies advocate for breastfeeding children for at least the first two years of life when possible. “I encourage all [parents] to breastfeed and/or pump to provide breast milk for their babies and to give themselves grace if they can’t provide human milk exclusively for their baby,” Dr. Janelle Ferry, a board-certified neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group, told Parents in a recent interview. “We are fortunate to have safe alternatives with formula. Breast milk definitely has benefits that can’t be replicated by formula, and formula will still ensure that a baby gets appropriate nutrition to grow and...