Breastfeeding is a personal choice, and it's certainly not for everyone.

But, for those moms who decide to breastfeed—or if you're a mom-to-be and are on the fence about whether you want to breastfeed—there are definitely some really great benefits to consider.

In this guide, we go over 21 amazing benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby.

Breast milk is a superfood that provides all of the essential nutrients needed for baby’s growth and development during the first few months of her life.

Breastfeeding mothers that watch their diets to be sure they are getting the right kind and quantity of vitamins, proteins, and minerals pass them down to their babies through the breast milk.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants receive oral drops of vitamin D. Adults and babies naturally get vitamin D from the sunlight, but babies are out in the sun less, so they need a supplement.

The antibodies in the milk help reduce respiratory problems, reduce the number of ear infections a baby gets, and defeats bouts of diarrhea. According to Dr. Sears, this is because one drop of human breast milk contains about a million white blood cells.

Each cell is packed with immunities that are passed down through the breastmilk. In the first few days after birth, the breast milk is called colostrum.

It has a thicker consistency and contains higher amounts of white blood cells than the milk that comes in later. Colostrum helps the baby as it becomes exposed to new germs in the world.

The act of nursing protects against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) which causes inflammation of the lungs that is thought to contribute to SIDS, specifically during the first six months of your baby’s life.

According to SIDS and Kids, the latest research shows that breastfeeding decreases instances of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) by 50%.

This research is consistent with other studies that have been conducted over the last 15 years.

When nursing, your baby gets skin to skin contact and makes eye contact, helping them to feel safe and secure, according to WebMD.

Breastfeeding releases hormones in the mother’s body that give you a mothering instinct.

You become in tune with your baby and recognize your baby’s signs that tell your whether your baby is hungry, wet, bored, or unhappy for some other reason.

Studies show that babies who were breastfed are less likely to develop serious illnesses later in life, like Type 1 diabetes, Celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, pregnant women that have gestational diabetes have an increased risk that their child will become diabetic.

One study found that breastfeeding for six months reduced that risk.

While formulas try to replicate the proteins and other enzymes in breast milk, there is nothing like the real thing. It is designed specifically for your baby and their nourishment needs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breastfeed their infants for at least the first six months after birth.

They also recommend continuing breastfeeding and supplementing it with solid food at about one year of age. Mayo Clinic calls breastfeeding the gold standard for infant nutrition.

Studies have shown that when babies are breastfed they have a lower chance of being severely overweight, especially in toddlerhood and childhood. Baker Chiropractic supports these studies and notes that breastfed babies are leaner than formula fed babies, even in infancy.

Baker also says that overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults.

Baker theorizes that breastfed babies better learn to regulate food intake because finishing the last ounce or two is a non-issue.

According to JAMA Pediatrics, babies who were breastfed were less likely to develop certain kinds of childhood cancers, like leukemia.

Doctors at the University of Haifa, Israel, reviewed 18 studies that discussed the connection between breastfeeding and leukemia.

They found that the risk of leukemia is 19% lower for babies that were breastfed for the first six months of life.

A study has shown that babies who nursed had a higher IQ at the age of 30 (about 4 points higher), compared to babies who were formula fed, as reported by CNN.

They were also more proficient verbally.

The researchers were able to follow about 68% of the participants, which is a strong number for a longitudinal study.

Your breast milk is specifically designed for your child. But, in the case that your child is born premature, your milk adapts to your baby’s needs.

It is richer and higher in essential nutrients to help make your preemie strong and stable. HealthyChildren.org recommends expressing breast milk and feeding your premie by a tube or by a tiny cup or bottle.

It’s perfectly fine to start breastfeeding a little later on when your baby’s sucking reflex is better developed.

Because you’re burning extra calories when nursing (about 500 extra calories a day), you are more likely to lose the baby weight faster and get back into your pre-pregnancy clothes quicker.

In an article by Women’s Health Magazine, Tanya Zuckerbrot, M.S., R.D, author of The F-Factor Diet, reminds new mothers that their bodies require a bit of extra energy to create breast milk, so they need to eat a few hundred extra calories a day.

The hormone oxytocin is released while breastfeeding and it shrinks the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size much quicker than if a mom chooses to formula feed.

FitPregnancy.com states that breastfeeding mothers can expect their uteruses to return to normal size in just about six weeks.

This is compared with 10 weeks for non-breastfeeding mothers.

When oxytocin is released during nursing, moms experience less postpartum bleeding, according to studies and physicians across the board.

An article by Trimester Talk affirms that oxytocin plays a role in reducing postpartum bleeding.

When you breastfeed, because many different hormones are released, your reproductive health is altered, leaving you with no period, or a very light one throughout your cycle.

In an article by Today’s Parent, breastfeeding women can expect their period to return about 20 weeks or sometimes for a year or longer.

This is compared with a non-breastfeeding mother that can expect her first postpartum period at 10 weeks after birth.

Formula can run on average about $18-$30 per can, and the average baby will drink one canister a week. Breastfeeding is free and will save you a bundle!

Check out this article by The Simple Dollar, where they did a comprehensive comparison between the costs of breastfeeding and formula.

Breastfeeding mothers can expect to save about $1733.75 per year feeding their babies.

Moms who breastfeed can pick up and go, without having to worry about having enough bottles made, and how they are going to keep them cool.

In an article by KidsHealth.org, the author points out the value of convenience for breastfeeding mothers, who don’t have to worry about last minute trips to the store to pick up formula.

They also get the convenience of not having to wash up bottles and nipples every day.

You can focus on the joy that your child brings you, due to the release of prolactin, which gives you a feeling of peace and happiness.

Oxytocin is also released, which gives moms the sense of love and attachment for their babies.

La Leche League International calls this benefit a well-kept secret.

Some studies show that women who breastfeed have a lower risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis, which has to do with how the body absorbs calcium more efficiently, making them more dense.

WomensHealth.gov reports that breastfeeding women and their infants should make sure that they get the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D.

According to one study of over 1,600 women with breast cancer, breastfeeding moms were 30% less likely to have a recurrence of breast cancer.

CBS News cited the study by Marilyn Kwan, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente division of research in Oakland, California, who also noted that 28% of mothers that previously breastfed had a 28% reduction in cases of death due to breast cancer.

When a woman sees her baby growing solely by drinking her milk, it is a powerful, amazing feeling that builds confidence that is gratifying.

INFACT Canada is a coalition on infant feeding. In this article, INFACT supports giving breastfeeding women a supportive and conducive environment where they can breastfeed their babies.

A National Institutes of Health study showed that breastfeeding moms had a lower risk of postpartum depression.

Additionally, those who continued to breastfeed after six months were less stressed and had lower blood pressure compared to moms who stopped.