My rant on breastfeeding and its benefits
Breast milk is the best nutrition for babies. The World Health Organization recommends that babies are fed only breast milk for their first six months, and that breast-feeding then be continued as part of a mixed diet until the age of two years. Breast-feeding provides many health benefits for both baby and mother. A vitamin D supplement is recommended for all breast-feeding women and for breast-fed babies.

What are the benefits of breast-feeding for the baby?

"Breast is best."

Breast milk is the ultimate first baby food. It is specially produced by a mother for her own baby. The breast milk composition changes day by day and feed by feed, to meet the baby's ever-changing needs. As such, it has the perfect combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrate, and fluids that newborn babies require.

Formula milk can never quite match this perfect recipe. Infant formula is made from cows' milk. The important factors for your baby's growth and protection cannot be manufactured in a factory and added to infant formula.

No other fluids (such as water) are needed for a breast-fed baby. Even in the hottest weather, the breast milk composition changes, to provide everything your baby needs. Even when your baby is unwell, for example, if he has diarrhoea, you should continue to breast-feed. (In some circumstances, you might be advised by a medical professional to give extra fluids or oral rehydration therapy. But, for mild illnesses, breast milk alone is fine.)

Even if your baby is premature, or unwell and in hospital (for example, in the neonatal unit or Special Care Baby Unit), breast milk is still best for your baby. You may be asked to try to express some milk and can be shown how to do this.

Just one single formula feed in a previously breast-fed infant can sensitise his gut to the proteins in cows' milk. In some cases this may cause intolerances and allergies to these proteins. Formula milk changes the bacteria and acid levels in your baby's gut, and it can take up to a month for things to return to normal. If you have decided to breast-feed, try to stick with it.

No mistakes

If you breast-feed, it is impossible to make any mistakes with the milk your baby receives.

Breast-feeding reduces the risk of developing infection

On average, breast-fed babies have fewer infections in their early life. The main reason for this is that antibodies are passed in the breast milk from mother to baby. Antibodies are proteins that help to fight infection. Breast-fed babies have less diarrhoea and vomiting, and fewer chest and ear infections, compared with babies who are not breast-fed.

In developed countries such as the UK, the reduction in the risk of infection is significant. In developing countries, such as certain countries in Africa, the reduction in the risk of infection is dramatic. For example, a review in 42 developing countries estimated that exclusive breast-feeding for six months, with partial breast-feeding continuing to 12 months, could prevent 1.3 million deaths each year in children aged under five years.

Breast-feeding reduces the risk of cot death

There is good evidence that sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - also known as cot death - is less common in breast-fed babies. This is not fully explained, although the fact that breast-fed babies have fewer infections is possibly a contributing factor.

Developmental and emotional factors and bonding

One study reported that performance in childhood intelligence tests was better in children who had been breast-fed compared with those who had been bottle-fed. It is difficult to assess emotional factors, and no firm conclusions can be drawn. Recent research shows that children who were breast-fed are brighter than their formula-fed peers. Those born at full term and breast-fed for at least the first four weeks of life, do better in tests of reading, writing and maths - and this effect extends into the secondary school years.

The results of one study suggested that babies who were full term at birth and breast-fed, had fewer behavioural problems at five years. The longer the child was breast-fed, the greater the effect. These behavioural problems were assessed by the parents rather than doctors, and the exact reason for these findings is unclear. The types of problem included emotional difficulties such as clinginess and conduct problems, such as lying. Results are likely to be a combination of factors, although it may be related to something in breast milk itself. Behavioural problems may be reduced in children who have been breast-fed because these children benefit from a closer interaction with their mothers. The advantage of breast-feeding in terms of a reduction in childhood infections, may indirectly affect behaviour.

It is thought that breast-feeding enhances the bonding process between baby and mother. Early skin contact is promoted from the moment of birth. Your baby needs to feel safe, secure and warm. Being cuddled naked, against the mother's bare skin (covered with a blanket or towel) for as long as possible, is important. Putting the newborn baby straight to the breast for a feed is ideal. In this immediate postnatal period, breast-feeding helps to regulate your baby's blood sugars and his breathing and heart rates.