Each Additional Month of Breastfeeding Helps Create a Stronger and Healthier Future for You and Your Baby.
Better for Your Baby
- Protects your baby from obesity
- Lowers the risk of your baby developing allergies
- Saves you hundreds of dollars that you would have to spend on formula
- Protects your baby from getting sick and helps prevent ear infections
- Lowers your baby’s risk of having diabetes, asthma and cancer
Better for You
- Helps you lose weight – breastfeeding burns 500-700 calories a day
- Protects you from iron deficiency and helps you feel stronger
- Reduces your risk of getting cancer, including breast cancer, uterine, ovarian and endometrial cancer
- Reduces your risk of osteoporosis
- You may get to sleep more - new moms who breastfeed sleep longer
10 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby
- Breast milk is your baby’s perfect food. It has all the right nutrients, in just the right amounts.
- Breast milk is always ready.
- Breast milk is constantly changing to meet the needs of your growing baby.
- Breast milk makes your baby’s brain grow. This means your child could do better in school.
- Breastfed babies are sick less often. They also don’t have as many earaches and allergies.
- Breastfed babies have less diarrhea and stomach trouble because breast milk is so easy to digest.
- Breastfeeding helps you feel close to your baby.
- Breastfeeding is free food for your baby.
- Breastfeeding is easier because there is nothing to carry, measure or heat. It makes nighttime feedings and traveling with the baby much easier.
- Breastfeeding helps mom get back in shape. Breastfeeding burns 500 calories a day! It also helps to shrink the uterus back to its normal size.
Contact Us
For more information about breastfeeding in San Mateo County, visit www.smhealth.org/wic
Breastfeeding Support Services: (800) 205-0333
San Mateo County WIC Program: (650) 573-2168
Local Breastfeeding Resources Contact Information
Local Breastfeeding Services Table
General Information
How does formula compare to breast milk? (California WIC Association) [PDF]
What Mom can Expect in the First Week of Breastfeeding (California WIC Association) English | Spanish | Chinese [PDF]
Breastfeeding after you return to work or school (California WIC Association) English | Spanish [PDF]
How to pump and store breast milk (California WIC Association) English | Spanish [PDF]
Other Resources (California WIC Association)
Information for Providers and Public Health Professionals
Cal WIC’s breastfeeding initiatives
- breastfeeding initiatives
- breastfeeding legislation
- breastfeeding in the workplace information
Womenshealth.gov
Statistics on Breastfeeding Practices in the U.S.-Results from the National Immunization Survey (CDC)
Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Pediatric Overweight?
Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries
Guide to Breastfeeding Interventions (CDC)
When should a mother avoid breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding Laws and Regulations
California breastfeeding laws and regulations
La Leche League International
- breastfeeding and family law
- breastfeeding and jury duty
- breastfeeding in the workplace
- breastfeeding in public
Other Resources
La Leche League
- Find local breastfeeding support and healthcare providers
- Legal information for breastfeeding moms
- General information
Kellymom
- personal and professional education materials
- parent forum
- reviews on breastfeeding books and supplies
Nursing Mothers Counsel (NMC)
- Free over-the-phone assistance and home visits
Breastfeeding.com
- directory of lactation consultants, doulas, midwives, and counselors
- online forum for moms and healthcare providers
- reading room for articles and books on breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles
- Information on upcoming breastfeeding seminars
- Breastfeeding advocacy efforts
- Breastfeeding book and supply information
California WIC Program
To make additions or corrections to this page, contact:
Anne Garrett, RN
Supervisor
WIC Breastfeeding Support Services
San Mateo County Family Health Services
2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94403
650-573-2955
agarrett@co.sanmateo.ca.us