Breast feeding as gift of nature: what it provides for mother and baby? (Lecture)

Abstract

The priority of breast feeding is a well-known fact many times described in pediatric scientific literature. However we decided to summarize in a brief review all positive influences of breast feeding both for a baby and for mother and for society in general. For infant one should mention an optimal growth, protection from infections, reduced risk of adult diseases, better mental development. For mother it means better recovery after delivery, weight control, lower risk of postpartum bleeding. Economic profit for family budget is connected with the price of infant formulas which are unnecessary in breast feeding.