Forget all the celebrity diets after pregnancy – try breast feeding instead!

There is strong evidence that women can regain their pre-birth weight and give their babies the healthiest possible start in life by breastfeeding.

Ahead of next week’s World Breastfeeding Week (1 – 7 August), NHS Suffolk is highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby.

“Breast milk really is the diet tool that can help the mother lose weight and give the baby the very healthiest start in life,” said Michael Hattrell, NHS Suffolk health improvement manager.

“Breastfeeding can burn up to an incredible 500 calories a day – to achieve this through regular exercise would mean running five miles or doing an hour’s intensive cycling. Over just one week, a breastfeeding mother could expect to see weight loss of one pound.


“It’s not advisable to go on a crash diet after giving birth, and breastfeeding gives a new mother a unique opportunity to lose weight slowly, meaning she will have more energy to look after her new baby.”

Breastfeeding doesn’t just help a new mother lose weight as, on average, breastfed babies have fewer infections, and in particular they suffer less diarrhoea and vomiting, chest infections and ear infections.

There is also evidence to suggest that children who have been breastfed are less inclined to suffer from health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Evidence from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence shows that 18% of women are obese when they become pregnant and that maternal obesity significantly increases the chances of childhood obesity.

For more information on World Breastfeeding Week 2010 visit www.waba.org.uk
Information on the National Institute of Clinical Excellence can be found at www.nice.org.uk
For more information about NHS Suffolk visit www.suffolk.nhs.uk