I ought to know it’s not possible for everyone to breastfeed their baby. As a foster mother I certainly couldn’t breastfeed my babies but if you can you should and here’s why.
For your baby...Breastfed babies have been shown to...

* Require fewer hospitalizations
* Develop fewer respiratory, urinary tract, and ear infections among others
* Be less likely to die from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
* Suffer from fewer bouts of allergies and asthma as they age
* Have higher I.Q. scores
* Be less likely to develop obesity and cancer in later years

For you....Breastfeeding is good for mom because....

* Less bleeding after childbirth
* Suppression of the menstrual cycle so you lose less blood during the first few months of your child’s life
* Lower chances of developing ovarian and breast cancers

And there are many other, positive benefits of breast milk, as well.  In this economy a big factor is that breastfeeding is considerably cheaper than buying formula? I mean think about it, your body is producing what your baby needs so there’s no rushing to the store in the middle of the night because you've run out of formula. Baby formula is like gold. It is so expensive in some stores it is under lock and key. Even with the coupons you can get from manufactures it can eat a heavy chunk in the family budget. Why buy it when you don’t have to and breast milk is free.

In addition, breast milk doesn’t have to be heated before being given to your baby; it comes readily available at the perfect temperature. You donít have to worry about breast milk spoiling if itís in the diaper bag too long, you donít have to buy bottles (unless you pump and choose to), and your baby loves it. What better benefits could there be to choosing breast milk over formula?