Why breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed infants and young children. Breast milk alone provides all the nutrients an infant requires to grow well until about six months: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, hormones and water in a perfectly balanced mix. After the age of six months, breastfeeding, with appropriate complementary foods, continues to contribute to an optimal infant’s and young child’s growth.

Perhaps more important than its nutritive function, along with its positive effect on bonding and attachment, is the protective role of breastfeeding. Breast milk contains antibodies from the mother that help defend the baby against infections. It also contains other substances that limit the growth of or kill harmful germs. Finally, breast milk passes live cells on to the baby that will enhance its defences. The exact composition and properties of breast milk are still unknown, but during evolution mammals developed it first as a protective substance and only later as a food (Oddy, 2002). In addition, the composition of breast milk changes in response to the needs of the baby, during a feed, during the day, and over time. Hence, it adjusts to each infant's needs for growth and development.

The WHO recommends breastfeeding children up to two years of age or beyond

The WHO Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (WHO, 2002g) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Thereafter infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. UNICEF, as well as many governments and professional associations, have endorsed and adopted the WHO recommendations. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and subsequently breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods secure optimal infant’s and young child’s growth, development and health (AAP, 2005).

Alternatives to breastfeeding should only be used in medically recommended situations

Different types of artificial milk are marketed for replacement of breast milk. However, despite continuous efforts to improve the composition of these formulae, a mass industrial product will never equal breast milk. Its composition will never change during a feed and it will never contain antibodies and live cells specifically designed for that baby. Formula feeding, therefore, should only be used in medically recommended situations. For example when infants are affected by rare diseases such as galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease and phenylketonuria (for more details see Medical reasons for formula feeding).

Whatever the reason for replacing breast milk with formula, mothers should be warned about the possible harms of artificial feeding. In particular, mothers using powder infant formula, the most commonly acquired product on the market, should be alerted that this is not a sterile product and that it should be stored, prepared and administered to the baby in a safe manner (WHO/FAO, 2007).

Lack of breastfeeding is associated with an increased risk of diarrhoea, lower and upper respiratory tract infections, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, childhood leukaemia, SIDS, obesity and more. Lack of breastfeeding is also associated with increased risks for the mother, such as pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer (Ip et al., 2007). For more details see Consequences for individual and society.

Also see the EUphact Diabetes.