With World Breast-feeding Week coming Aug. 1-7, proponents of breastfeeding are working especially hard to get the word out about what they consider the best nutritional choice for infants.

Growing knowledge about the benefits of breast-feeding for the infant as well as the mother has led doctors and health care workers to encourage new mothers to breastfeed. For many mothers and infants, it is not just a lifestyle choice but also a health choice.

In 1998, the Academy of Pediatrics recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding beyond the first year, if desired. Many of us were raised on infant formula, but it is an inferior food when compared to human milk.

Formula-fed infants have 3-4 times more ear infections and are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized in the first year of life. Studies show that children who were breastfed do better in school and score higher than formula-fed children on intelligence tests — 8.2 points higher.

A new study of 9,000 children in Bavaria found that breastfed children were less likely to become obese adults. Children breastfed for one year were 73 percent less likely to begin school overweight.

Moms benefit also, by losing weight after delivery. They burn an extra 500 calories a day making breast milk. They also have less chance of having ovarian and premenopausal breast cancer.

The close emotional bond between a nursing mother and her infant is particularly important, especially for the mother who must return to work. These mothers can express their milk at work and continue to provide the best nutrition for their infants even when they are separated.

Breastfeeding has benefits to an employer, since mothers who breastfeed have less absenteeism (27 percent) and return to work sooner than mothers who formula-feed. Employers like Home Depot, Aetna, Amoco and Fulton County provide a breastfeeding room and breast pumps when mothers return to work.

A study done for Cigna revealed a savings to the company of $240,000 annually in health care expenses for breastfeeding mothers and their children. An average family will spend $900-4,000 in the first year to buy formula. This cost does not include the extra doctor visits, medications and time missed at work.

For taxpayers, breastfeeding has benefits because breastfed children are less sick and that means less Medicaid money will be spent on doctor visits.

Our federal WIC (Women, Infants and Children) supplemental food program, funded by taxpayers, is the world's largest purchaser of infant formula, spending $500 million per year that could be spent elsewhere.

Most mothers are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding but do not always find support. Most hospitals have a lactation specialist on staff to assist mothers after delivery.

After discharge from the hospital, mothers can find help through La Leche League or BOND (Babies One Natural Diets). These are local, mother-to-mother support groups. Most of the WIC programs have a person to assist with breastfeeding problems. Private lactation consultants, breastfeeding classes or pediatricians can also help with breastfeeding problems.

The Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia has a “Power Line” hotline for mothers who need more information on issues relating to breastfeeding. The number is 770-451-5501.

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