Breastfeeding your baby will without doubt give your baby the best start in life.
Breastfeeding offers a unique way of being with, responding to, and mothering your baby, and is endorsed by many official bodies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics and the UK Department of Health.
Indeed the WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding (which means giving no other milk or other food or drink) for six months, plus continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.
The reason that these endorsements and recommendations are necessary is that women today have a choice over how to feed their babies – they can either breastfeed or give their baby formula.
Once there was no choice – a woman either breastfed or her baby died unless someone else breastfed for her, but the advent of cows’ milk formula feeds in the first half of the 20th century offered an easy alternative for the first time. This apparent advance has had two worrying results. One is that many babies today have a higher risk of many immediate, short-term and longterm health problems because they are formula-fed. The other is that fewer people are familiar with the womanly art of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is completely natural and normal but as with most things takes a bit of practice to get right! Every day you breast feed makes a difference to your baby’s health now and in the future. Breastfeeding also helps you bond with your baby and there are many health benefits for Mum as well.
In my Breastfeeding Section I have tried to answer as many of your questions as I can and there is plenty of advice and information for you to read.
Dr. Penny Stanway
June 2009
www.pennystanway.com
Buy Dr. Penny Stanway's Book 'Breast Is Best' Here
Go to Breast Feeding | 
Introduction to our Breast Feeding Section
