The pilot was so successful that the NIH Lactation Program is now a permanent part of the Work and Family Life Center's services. The NIH Lactation Program services are available free of charge. However, you do need to register in order to take advantage of the consultations, classes, and lactation rooms. If you have any questions about the program, you can contact our Lactation Consultants . Benefits of Breastfeeding Human milk is superior for infant feeding and is designed to meet the unique needs of human infants.
Breastfed infants enjoy additional general health, growth and developmental benefits.
Breastfeeding provides infants with protection from certain infections of the respiratory tract, ear, brain and spinal cord, and gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. Furthermore, breastfeeding may help prevent sudden infant death syndrome, insulin-dependent diabetes, and diseases of the digestive system, colon, and lymphatic system. Breastfeeding may also reduce the risk of your baby developing allergies. As a mother, you benefit from breastfeeding your baby by experiencing less bleeding after delivery and a more rapid return of the uterus to its normal size. Breastfeeding also helps speed your return to your pre-pregnancy weight, prevents calcium loss from your bones, and reduces your risk of developing ovarian and premenopausal breast cancers.