NEW PARENTS ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE THEIR BABIES THE VERY BEST. WHEN IT COMES TO NUTRITION, THE BEST FIRST FOOD FOR BABIES IS BREASTMILK.

BREAST FED BABIES ARE HEALTHIER AND HAVE FEWER INFECTIONS THAN FORMULA FED BABIES SAYS ERIN PARIS, REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND LACTATION CONSULTANT AT SIU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN SPRINGFIELD.

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PARIS SAYS BREASTFEEDING ALSO HAS IMPORTANT BENEFITS FOR THE MOTHER. IT DECREASES HER RISK FOR OVARIAN AND BREAST CANCER, AS WELL AS THE RISK FOR DEVELOPING OSTEOPOROSIS. IT ALSO RESULTS IN A FASTER RETURN TO PRE-PREGNANCY WEIGHT. EXPLAINS BREAST FEEDING RECOMMENDATIONS.

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NEW MOTHERS CAN LEARN ABOUT BREASTFEEDING BY TALKING TO THEIR FAMILY PHYSICIAN OR OBSTETRICIAN. MOST HOSPITALS HAVE A LACTATION COUNSELOR OR OFFER BREASTFEEDING CLASSES TO NEW MOTHE