Hesperian Health Guides
Chapter 7: Breastfeeding
Why Breast Is Best
It helps both baby and parent to breastfeed for as long as possible, at least for 1 to 2 years. During the first 6 months, give your baby nothing but breast milk.
Breastfeeding is one of the oldest and healthiest practices in the world. But as the world changes, people sometimes need information and support to keep breastfeeding their babies. Breastfeeding is important because:
- Breast milk is the only perfect food to help a baby grow healthy and strong.
- Breastfeeding helps the womb stop bleeding after birth.
- Breast milk protects the baby against illnesses and infections like diabetes, some types of cancer, diarrhea, and pneumonia, because the defenses against illness pass to the baby through breast milk.
- Breastfeeding helps protect the birth parent against diseases like cancer and weakened bones (osteoporosis).
- Breast milk is always clean, always ready, and always the right temperature.
- Breastfeeding makes a close, secure bond with and for the baby.
- Gving babies nothing but breast milk for 6 months can protect you from becoming pregnant again too soon after giving birth.
- Breastfeeding is free.
This page was updated:22 Jan 2024