Study: Breastfeeding Saves Lives and Money
BY: Lolita Carrico First Published: Apr 04 AT 10.58 pm Last Updated: 10.59 pm

Putting aside the benefits breastfeeding offers to mom and baby, a new study also finds that breastfeeding saves our country significant amounts in health care. The study, published in the current issue of Pediatrics, found that if 90% of mothers breastfeed for the first six months of their baby’s lives, 900 babies would be saved from death each year and literally billions of dollars — $13 billion to be exact — would be saved.
The most significant finding, we think, is that the study clearly indicates that babies lives would be saved and some illnesses could be prevented by breastfeeding. The research found that stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and childhood leukemia can be prevented through breastfeeding in the early months of infancy. The study also indicated that breast milk is full of antibodies that help infants fight infections and that it also regulates insulin levels in the blood, which could make breast-fed babies less likely to develop diabetes and obesity in their futures.
“The health care system has got to be aware that breast-feeding makes a profound difference,” said Dr. Ruth Lawrence, heads of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ breast-feeding division.

from:http://mygloss.com/mama/2010/04/04/study-breastfeeding-saves-lives-and-money/