College of Family Physicians of Canada.

The benefits of breastfeeding have been well documented. The composition of human milk is distinct from the milk of other mammals and from infant formula. Human milk is unique in its physical structure and in the types of concentrations of nutrients, enzymes, hormones, growth factors, host resistance factors, inducers/modulators of the immune system, and antiinflammatory agents. Research has shown that the advantages of breastfeeding include the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory illness, and other infections as well as certain immunologic disorders. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risks of asthma, allergies, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity in some populations, certain gastric cancers (lymphoma) and gastrointestinal disorders (h.pylori infection, Giardia, pyloric stenosis) to name a few, diarrhea, sepsis and meningitis in preterm infants, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, 3 not to mention the financial advantages the psychological advantages to the mother and the family and the neurodevelopmental benefits to the infant. In addition to preventing illness early in life, breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases and has advantages for the premature as well as term infant. Breastfeeding also provides benefits to the mother. In addition to enhancing maternal-infant bonding, breastfeeding results in more rapid uterine involution and conservation of maternal iron stores. More recent studies indicate that breastfeeding may also reduce the risk of breast cancer, ovarian and uterine cancer and have a long-term protective effect on maternal bone mineral density.