Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of BreastfeedingBenefits and RisksChallenges
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Breastfeeding
Benefits and Risks
Challenges
This article explains the different types, benefits, complications, and ways to manage difficulties with breastfeeding.
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images
How Common Is Breastfeeding?
Exclusive Breastfeeding
In the United States, 46% of babies are exclusively breastfed through 3 months, and 26% are exclusively breastfed through 6 months.
Exclusive breastfeeding might look different for different people. For instance, the term “exclusive breastfeeding” can describe any of the following:
Breast milk is the ideal nutrition for human infants. However, the AAP recommendsvitamin D supplementsfor breastfeeding infants.
Montgomery Tubercles: Understanding Areola Bumps
Partial Breastfeeding
In the United States, 19% of newborns receive formula supplementation in their first two days of life.
Some reasons parents choose partial breastfeeding rather than exclusive breastfeeding include:
In most workplaces, women have the right to pump at work. The federal Break Time for Nursing Mothers law requires certain employers to provide breastfeeding moms time and space to pump.Specifically, this means:
Pros and Cons of Autologous Breast Augmentation
There are many benefits and very few risks associated with breastfeeding. The main risks are breastfeeding-related complications or difficulties. Often, these can be managed with proper support.
Benefits
Breastfeeding benefits extend to both the breastfeeding parent and the infant. For infants, breast milk is uniquely designed to meet a human infant’s nutritional needs.
Research has found that if 90% of U.S. babies were exclusively breastfed for six months, nearly 1,000 infant deaths could be prevented.
In addition, for breastfeeding parents, the risk of the following health conditions is lower:
Risks
For most people, breastfeeding is a healthy and safe choice. However, in certain situations, breastfeeding can pose risks, which can include:
Cluster Feeding Schedule in Newborns
Many challenges can accompany breastfeeding. However, most of the time, with adequate support, parents can work through breastfeeding difficulties. Some of the more common breastfeeding problems include:
What to Know About PCOS and Pregnancy
Summary
A Word From Verywell
If you are breastfeeding or thinking about breastfeeding, you may be feeling overwhelmed. That’s understandable. There is a lot of information and a lot of pressure around parenting.
Be sure to set yourself up with a proper support network. For example, locate the contact information for a lactation consultant in case you need one. And connect with others who have breastfed, like friends, family members, and breastfeeding groups. They can be a good source of information and encouragement.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.La Leche League of Canada.Joint statement of use of term chestfeeding.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding facts.Hunegnaw M, Gezie L, Teferra A.Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Gozamin district, northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study.Int Breastfeed J. 12(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-017-0121-1Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 129(3):e827-41. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552Department of Agriculture WIC Breastfeeding Support.Your breastfeeding rights.Office on Women’s Health.Making the decision to breastfeed.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding: Why it matters.U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Common breastfeeding challenges.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.La Leche League of Canada.Joint statement of use of term chestfeeding.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding facts.Hunegnaw M, Gezie L, Teferra A.Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Gozamin district, northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study.Int Breastfeed J. 12(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-017-0121-1Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 129(3):e827-41. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552Department of Agriculture WIC Breastfeeding Support.Your breastfeeding rights.Office on Women’s Health.Making the decision to breastfeed.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding: Why it matters.U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Common breastfeeding challenges.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
La Leche League of Canada.Joint statement of use of term chestfeeding.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding facts.Hunegnaw M, Gezie L, Teferra A.Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Gozamin district, northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study.Int Breastfeed J. 12(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-017-0121-1Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 129(3):e827-41. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552Department of Agriculture WIC Breastfeeding Support.Your breastfeeding rights.Office on Women’s Health.Making the decision to breastfeed.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding: Why it matters.U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Common breastfeeding challenges.
La Leche League of Canada.Joint statement of use of term chestfeeding.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding facts.
Hunegnaw M, Gezie L, Teferra A.Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Gozamin district, northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study.Int Breastfeed J. 12(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-017-0121-1
Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 129(3):e827-41. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552
Department of Agriculture WIC Breastfeeding Support.Your breastfeeding rights.
Office on Women’s Health.Making the decision to breastfeed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breastfeeding: Why it matters.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Common breastfeeding challenges.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
