Should I or shouldn’t I breastfeed? This is the question I hear from many of my patients. They say that they know it’s highly beneficial for the baby and can be a transformative bonding experience for the mother. They also say they know that it can be a difficult, painful, time-consuming process and sometimes insufficient for the baby’s needs. Both are correct, so the choice will have to be their choice. My role is encouraging informed choices, so let’s start with the many advantages of breastfeeding—and the list is always growing.

Breast milk is a newborn’s elixir. It naturally has macronutrients and micronutrients to nourish the baby, immunoglobulins, antimicrobial agents, immune cells to protect the baby, and growth factors and hormones to help them develop. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately six months, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for at least two years.1 In addition, breastfeeding for at least six months seems to give your baby some protection from allergies, eczema, ear infections, breathing infections, and stomach problems, and reduce their likelihood of developing diabetes.2

There are advantages for mothers, too. Long-term breastfeeding may help lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes, and certain other diseases in mothers.3

And then there are the personal and practical benefits. You can breastfeed almost anywhere and anytime your baby is hungry. You can save up to $1,000 or more a year on formula. You are also less likely to miss work because breastfed babies are usually not sick as often. And a popular perk — breastfeeding mothers find it easier to lose weight after pregnancy.4

The emotional benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child are often profound. Most women who breastfeed say they feel a rush of affection and connection to the baby during nursing. Scientists say that is partially because oxytocin, the "bonding hormone," is released during breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. This hormone enhances both the mother’s and the child’s feelings of trust, attachment, and love, and may reduce the risk of postpartum depression or milder baby blues.5

The oxytocin and the quiet time........

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