Did you know that babies who are breastfed during the first year of life save their families $1500 in formula costs?

These babies also have lower overall healthcare costs, since they are less likely to get infections and illnesses. Breastfeeding can help protect against ear infections, stomach viruses, obesity, asthma, diabetes and several other health problems.

Under the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans will now provide women with access to breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling with no out-of-pocket costs.

This week is World Breastfeeding Week, and we partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health to help raise awareness about the health benefits of breastfeeding.

With the Breastfeeding Resources Action Kit you can:

• learn the physical benefits of breastfeeding for kids and moms,
• discover the financial benefits of breastfeeding for families, employers, and communities,
• find breastfeeding support in your community,
• get tips to help you breastfeed confidently.

Get a free Guide to Breastfeeding for yourself and for the moms in your life.

By the Specialized Information Services Division of the National Library of Medicine

Women often wonder if a certain drug is safe to take while breastfeeding. LactMed, from the National Library of Medicine, is a free online tool with information that addresses those safety concerns.

You can find information about several hundred prescribed drugs, including

• the safe level of a drug in a mother’s milk
• the safe level of a drug in a infant’s blood
• possible effect of a drug on a breasting feeding infant
• effects on lactation
• other safe alternative medications

In addition to prescription drugs, LactMed also lists supplements used in alternative medicine such as lecithin, milk thistle, stinging nettle and St. John’s wort. The focus is on those supplements that are used by nursing mothers, like those claiming to stimulate milk production.

You can also use the LactMed app for iPhone/iPod Touch and for Android devices.