Ask the Doctor with Dr. Jeanelle Murphy

What are the pros of breastfeeding your newborn? How long would you recommend breastfeeding?

Breast milk is the perfect food for an infant. It is easy to absorb so it is better tolerated by the baby than formula, it contains antibodies that fight infection so the baby is less likely to get sick and if the baby does get sick he or she is less likely to be hospitalized.  The composition of breast milk naturally changes as the baby grows and as his or her needs change.  

Breastfed babies are healthier, are less likely to suffer from respiratory and ear infections as well as a stomach virus, have a lower risk of developing allergies and certain diseases such as diabetes, are less likely to be obese and they have a lower incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Breastfed babies are smarter because breast milk supports optimal brain development like no other food can. Breast milk helps vaccines be more effective, helps with teeth and mouth development, and gives babies a greater sense of taste and smell. Breastfeeding also supports emotional development by giving baby the skin-to-skin contact with the mother that creates a strong bond and a feeling of security.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states: “Breastfeeding ensures the best possible health and best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant.”

Breastfeeding also provides benefits to the mother. It burns calories so it is helpful with post-pregnancy weight loss. It releases a hormone called oxytocin which causes the uterus to contract and return to the pre-pregnancy size and decreases bleeding after birth. The release of oxytocin also helps the mother bond with her baby. Breastfeeding provides a natural form of birth control in the first 6 months after birth as long as no bottles or pacifiers are used and as long as the baby is receiving all nutrition from breastfeeding without supplementation. Breastfeeding may also lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in the mother.

I recommend breastfeeding for as long as mother and baby desire. There is no set age to stop breastfeeding. All my children have breastfed at least until the age of 2 years. As long as the baby is breastfeeding he or she is still receiving benefit, even well into toddlerhood.