Editor’s note: Misty Virmani, M.D., the author of this commentary, is a neonatologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, director of breastfeeding medicine, and executive medical director of the UAMS Milk Bank. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

Any new or expectant mother knows this question well — should I breastfeed my baby?

Research consistently shows that breastfeeding offers remarkable benefits for both mother and child. But it is equally true that not every family’s situation is the same. Work demands, health conditions, personal comfort, and family dynamics all play a role in feeding choices. No parent should feel guilt or shame for choosing the option that supports their well-being and their baby’s health.

Here are a few things to consider when making your decision.

Benefits For Mothers

Breastfeeding can support physical recovery and emotional well-being after childbirth. It can help lower blood pressure, promote a sense of calm, and strengthen the early bond with your baby.

Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of several women’s cancers, like breast and ovarian cancer, and significantly lowers the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes and long-term risk of developing metabolic conditions. Rates of postpartum depression, suicide, and infant neglect or abuse are all lower among mothers who breastfeed.

Mothers who do not breastfeed face increased risks of certain short-term complications, such as postpartum hemorrhage and anemia. Breastfeeding also helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly and lowers the risk of ongoing bleeding and infection. Women who choose not to breastfeed after a pregnancy may also face increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular conditions in their future, especially if they develop diabetes or other metabolic conditions.

Benefits For Babies

Breast milk is uniquely designed to support a baby’s developing immune system. Babies who are breastfed have:

• A 50% lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when breastfed for more than four months
• More than a 20% reduction in overall infant mortality
• Lower rates of childhood illnesses, including allergies, eczema, common infections, diabetes, leukemia, and cardiovascular disease later in life
• Fewer visits to the doctor for ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses
• Fewer hospitalizations in infancy and early childhood

For premature and medically fragile infants, the benefits are especially significant. Mother’s milk dramatically lowers the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening intestinal disease, and reduces the likelihood of severe infections, vision problems, and chronic lung disease.

How Long to Breastfeed?

For full-term infants, breast milk provides everything a baby needs for the first six months. Parents are encouraged to continue breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond, if it feels right for both mother and child. The immune and nutritional benefits of breast milk extend well into the toddler years.

Breast milk contains living immune cells, antibodies, and protective factors that cannot be artificially created. Scientists also believe that delaying exposure to cow’s milk — common in most formulas — helps reduce a child’s risk of developing allergies and various medical conditions.

Even partial breastfeeding offers meaningful benefits. Every day, week, or month a baby receives mother’s milk supports their immune system and reduces their risk of SIDS.

Some medical conditions, however, do affect breastfeeding decisions.

• Women with new or untreated HIV or with a detectable viral load should not breastfeed due to significant risk of transmitting the HIV virus through their milk. 
• Women with treated HIV and an undetectable viral load may breastfeed with minimal risk when guided by an infectious disease specialist, an OB/GYN, and their baby’s pediatrician.
• Mothers undergoing chemotherapy or radioactive treatments or taking certain medications should avoid breastfeeding until medically cleared.

Most other medicines are safe. When in doubt, it’s best to consult an expert in breastfeeding medicine.

Barriers to Breastfeeding

Many mothers face real challenges — emotional, physical, social, and financial — that can impact breastfeeding success.

You might be navigating:

• A demanding job without adequate pumping breaks or a workplace with no private space to pump (Arkansas has several laws that protect pumping time and space in the workplace.)
• Lack of family support
• Painful or difficult breastfeeding early on
• Anxiety about milk supply, especially before milk “comes in” (which can take five to eight days)

These barriers are common and understandable. Without a supportive environment at home, at work, and in health care, many mothers choose other feeding options — and that is a valid and loving choice.

UAMS offers supportive resources to help families navigate these challenges. More information is available at tinyurl.com/uamsbreastfeeding.

Every family deserves compassion and support as they make choices for their baby. Breastfeeding offers extraordinary health benefits, but it is not the only way to nurture a child. A loving, responsive home takes many forms.

In the end, the most important thing is simple: love your child the best you can and make choices that help your whole family thrive.