breastfeeding saves money

Studies by Dr. Miriam Labbok, director of the breastfeeding division at Georgetown University Medical Center, indicate that the U.S. could save two to four billion dollars each year in health costs if all mothers breastfeed their newborns for at least the first three months. Here are a few more reasons to consider breastfeeding:


There is strong evidence that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of diarrhea, lower-respiratory infection, ear infections, urinary tract infections, bacterial meningitis, Crohn's Disease, colitis and other diseases (American Academy of Pediatrics).
Studies have shown that breastfed babies have significantly higher IQs (about eight points) than their formula-fed counterparts.
There may be a link to a decreased incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome among breastfed babies.
Numerous benefits to mothers include a reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancers, as well as a lower incidence of hip fractures during the post-menopausal period.

Dillema

Sigh. Chase seems to be nursing more and eating solid foods less. Maybe he's feeling he needs my attention more? Or perhaps he's not wanting the foods I feed him. We've had a restrictive budget lately, so the selection has been unvaried. If he has peanut butter and jelly one day, he will barely eat it, or reject it the next day. Any advice? He feeds so much that his stools are no longer very firm. What can I do to encourage him to eat more? Also, he requests ice cream at every meal. I think he's refusing to eat anything else....