Support for<unk>  is universal among major health and children's organizations. WHO states, "Breast milk is the ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants;<unk>  is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers."<unk>  is associated with a lowered risk of a number of diseases in both mothers and babies. Baby Early<unk>  is associated with fewer nighttime feeding problems. Early skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby improves<unk>  outcomes and increases cardio-respiratory stability. Some studies show that<unk>  aids general health, growth and development in the infant. Infants who are not breastfed are at mildly increased risk of developing acute and chronic diseases, including lower respiratory infection, ear infections, bacteremia, bacterial meningitis, botulism, urinary tract infection and necrotizing enterocolitis.<unk>  may protect against sudden infant death syndrome, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, childhood lymphoma, allergic diseases, digestive diseases, obesity, or childhood leukemia later in life. and may enhance cognitive development. The CDC reports that infants who are breastfed have reduced risks of ear infections, obesity, type 1 diabetes, asthma, SIDS, and lower respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections. It is hard however to distinguish the importance of<unk>  per se and other correlated socioeconomic factors<unk>  is more frequent in richer families with higher educations). Comparing breastfed and non-breastfed siblings in a given family drastically decreases the association between<unk>  and long-term child well-being. Growth The average breastfed baby doubles its birth weight in 5–6 months. By one year, a typical breastfed baby weighs about times its birth weight. At one year, breastfed babies tend to be leaner than formula-fed babies, which improves long-run health. The Davis Area Research on Lactation, Infant Nutrition and Growth (DARLING) study reported that breastfed and formula-fed groups had similar weight gain during the first 3 months, but the breastfed babies began to drop below the median beginning at 6 to 8 months and were significantly lower weight than the formula-fed group between 6 and 18 months. Length gain and head circumference values were similar between groups, suggesting that the breastfed babies were leaner. Infections Breast milk contains several anti-infective factors such as bile salt stimulated lipase (protecting against amoebic infections) and lactoferrin (which binds to iron and inhibits the growth of intestinal bacteria). Exclusive<unk>  till six months of age helps to protect an infant from gastrointestinal infections in both developing and industrialized countries. The risk of death due to diarrhea and other infections increases when babies are either partially breastfed or not breastfed at all. Infants who are exclusively breastfed for the first six months are less likely to die of gastrointestinal infections than infants who switched from exclusive to partial<unk>  at three to four months. During<unk> , approximately 0.25–0.5 grams per day of secretory IgA antibodies pass to the baby via milk. This is one of the important features of colostrum. The main target for these antibodies are probably microorganisms in the baby's intestine. The rest of the body displays some uptake of IgA, but this amount is relatively small. Maternal vaccinations while<unk>  is safe for almost all vaccines. Additionally, the mother's immunity obtained by vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and influenza can protect the baby from these diseases, and<unk>  can reduce fever rate after infant immunization. However, smallpox and yellow fever vaccines increase the risk of infants developing vaccinia and encephalitis. Mortality The World Health Organization reports that babies who receive no breast milk are almost six times more likely to die by the age of one month than those who are partially or fully breastfed. Access to healthcare is the single critical determinant of survival or death for the infant. Childhood obesity The protective effect of<unk>  against obesity is consistent, though small, across many studies. A 2013 longitudinal study reported less obesity at ages two and four years among infants who were breastfed for at least four months. Allergic diseases In children who are at risk for developing allergic diseases (defined as at least one parent or sibling having atopy), atopic syndrome can be prevented or delayed through 4-month exclusive<unk> , though these benefits may not persist. Other health effects<unk>  may reduce the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature babies.<unk>  or introduction of gluten while<unk>  don't protect against celiac disease among at-risk children. Breast milk of healthy human mothers who eat gluten-containing foods presents high levels of non-degraded gliadin (the main gluten protein). Early introduction of traces of gluten in babies to potentially induce tolerance doesn't reduce the risk of developing celiac disease. Delaying the introduction of gluten does not prevent, but is associated with a delayed onset of the disease. About 14 to 19 percent of leukemia cases may be prevented by<unk>  for six months or longer. However,<unk>  is also the primary cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, as the HTLV-1 virus is transmitted through breastmilk.<unk>  is associated with a lower chance of developing diabetes mellitus type 1 in the offspring. Breastfed babies also appear to have a lower likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 later in life.<unk>  may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in later life, as indicated by lower cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels in breastfed adult women. Breastfed infants have somewhat lower blood pressure later in life, but it is unclear how much practical benefit this provides. A 1998 study suggested that breastfed babies have a better chance of good dental health than formula-fed infants because of the developmental effects of<unk>  on the oral cavity and airway. It was thought that with fewer malocclusions, breastfed children may have a reduced need for orthodontic intervention. The report suggested that children with a well rounded, "U-shaped" dental arch, which is found more commonly in breastfed children, may have fewer problems with snoring and sleep apnea in later life. A 2016 review found that<unk>  protected against malocclusions.<unk>  duration has been correlated with child maltreatment outcomes, including neglect and sexual abuse. Intelligence It is unclear whether<unk>  improves intelligence later in life. Several studies found no relationship after controlling for confounding factors like maternal intelligence (smarter mothers were more likely to breastfeed their babies). However, other studies concluded that<unk>  was associated with increased cognitive development in childhood, although the cause may be increased mother–child interaction rather than nutrition. Mother Maternal bond Oxytocin, a hormone released during<unk> , may play a role in maternal-infant attachment and bonding, potentially via decreased anxiety and stress. Fertility Exclusive<unk>  usually delays the return of fertility through lactational amenorrhea, although it does not provide reliable birth control.<unk>  may delay the return to fertility for some women by suppressing ovulation. Mothers may not ovulate, or have regular periods, during the entire lactation period. The non-ovulating period varies by individual. This has been used as natural contraception, with greater than 98% effectiveness during the first six months after birth if specific nursing behaviors are followed. Postpartum bleeding During the third stage of labor, the time between the delivery of the baby and the passage of the placenta, and the fourth, the final stage of birth, excessive blood loss can endanger the life of the mother. When the newborn nurses the mother secretes oxytocin which causes the uterus to cramp and reduce blood loss. Nursing also causes the uterus to cramp for a number of days postpartum, helping it to return to its pre-pregnancy size. Some women report moderate to severe pain, especially women who have given birth several times, during a nursing session for the first few days following delivery. Weight retention It is unclear whether<unk>  causes mothers to lose weight after giving birth. The National Institutes of Health states that it may help with weight loss. Chronic conditions<unk>  is also associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes among mothers who practice it. Longer duration of<unk>  is associated with reduced risk of hypertension. For<unk>  women, long-term health benefits include reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. According to the American Heart Association,<unk>  also reduces the risk of maternal heart disease and stroke. A 2011 review found it unclear whether<unk>  affects the risk of postpartum depression. Later reviews have found tentative evidence of a lower risk among mothers who successfully breastfeed, though it is unknown whether<unk>  decreases depression, or whether depression decreases<unk> . Dysphoric milk ejection reflex Dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER) is a condition in which<unk>  women develop negative emotions that begin just before the milk letdown reflex and last less than a few minutes. It may recur with every letdown, including unexpected letdowns when the baby is not feeding. It presents as an emotional reaction but may also produce physical feelings such as nausea. It is different from postpartum depression and other known psychological conditions. A 2019 study reported a prevalence rate of 9.1%. As off 2021, very little research has been done and many health care providers and lactation practitioners
Breastfeeding
Human–animal breastfeeding
Infant formula
Breast milk
Home birth
Parenteral nutrition
Dieting
Infant bathing