Breastfeeding: Methods, Benefits to the Infant & Nother, & Difficulties

Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. Most mothers can breastfeed for six months or more, without the addition of infant formula or solid food. Human breast milk is the most healthful form of milk for human babies. There are a few exceptions, such as when the mother is taking certain drugs or is infected with tuberculosis or HIV. Breastfeeding promotes health, helps to prevent disease and reduces health care and feeding costs. In both developing and developed countries, artificial feeding is associated with more deaths from diarrhoea in infants. Experts agree that breastfeeding is beneficial, but may disagree about the length of breastfeeding that is most beneficial, and about the risks of using artificial formulas. This book gathers the latest research from around the globe in the study of breastfeeding with a focus on such topics as:: breastfeeding during crises and emergencies, breastfeeding physiology and anatomy, the contraceptive role of breastfeeding, religion and breastfeeding and others.