Breast feeding is the nourishing of a baby with milk from the mammary glands of a woman. Breast milk may be sucked by the infant directly from the breasts or pumped and given to the baby by means of a feeding bottle. Breastfeeding has been advocated by health and medical experts because of reasons that are advantageous to both the mother and the child.

Beneficial to the Infant

Human breast milk has been proven to be an excellent food for babies because it meets the nutritional requirements of an infant. It also has the right balance of lactose, fatty acids, amino acids, and water that an infant's digestive system can digest and absorb. In addition, the antibodies produced by the mother and present in human milk provide the infant protection against diseases. Because of these, breastfeeding the baby for six to twelve months is advised.

Breast milk is sterile, and nourishing the baby directly from the breast reduces occurrence of infant diarrhea caused by dirty water and feeding bottles. In addition to this, breast sucking helps the baby strengthen his jaw and develop well-formed teeth. Hence, feeding the baby directly from the breast as much as possible is highly recommended.

Beneficial to the Mother

Breastfeeding can also help a woman lose weight because calories are utilized in providing milk for the baby. Lactation also influences contraction of the mother's uterus to its normal size. It can also reduce the likelihood of pregnancy since regular breastfeeding can suppress ovulation. However, this is not a reliable birth control method, and other recommended contraceptives should be used to prevent pregnancy. Lastly, the psychological bond breastfeeding nurtures between a mother and her child is as important as the health benefits it provides. The close human contact involved in nursing creates comfort and warmth for both the mother and the baby.