Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother include:

• Reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer

• Helps bonding between mother and child

• Lowers long-term risk of type 2 diabetes

• Saves money in milk formula costs (up to £600 per year)

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby include:

• Reduced incidence of infections – gastroenteritis, pneumonia and otitis media

• Reduced incidence of obesity and diabetes in later life

• Increased intelligence quotient (IQ) score

• Reduced risk of developing asthma and eczema

• Reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome