Human milk: optimal nutrition – and so much more

Human milk is the best possible nutrition for all infants. It provides the optimal nutritional balance for each individual infant, being specifically adapted and uniquely formulated to fully support their growth and development needs for the first six months of life. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods for two years and beyond.¹WHO, Global strategy on infant and young child feeding. Published on 2003

Breastfeeding has many benefits for infants

The unique composition of human milk provides specific short- and long-term health benefits for the infant including:

• Protection against infections and illnesses²WHO, Kramer MS and and Kakuma R, Optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding (Review). Published on 2001 ,³WHO, Infant and young child feeding data by country. [Online]. Available: http://www.who.int/nutrition/databases/infantfeeding/countries/en/,⁴Sachdev, et al. Lancet. Published on 1991;337:929-33 ,⁵WHO, Breastfeeding and the use of water and teas. Published on 1997 ,⁶Agostoni, et al.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. Published on 2009:49:112-25 , ⁷Horta, et al. Food Nutr Res. Published on 2013;57:20823
• Protection against allergies and asthma⁸WHO, Kramer, et al. Optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding (Review). Published on 2001 ,⁹Victora, et al. Lancet Glob Health. Published on 2013;3(4):e199-e205 ,¹⁰Lamberti, et al. BMC Public Health. Published on 2011;11Suppl 3:S15 ,¹¹Rebhan, et al. Acta Pædiatrica. Published on 2009;98(6): 974-80 ,¹²Agostoni, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. Published on 2009;49(1):112-25 ,¹³Michaelsen, et al. Gesundheitswesen. Published on 2008;70(S 1):S20-S1 ,¹⁴Gluckman, et al. N Engl J Med. Published on 2008;359:61–73 ,¹⁵WHO, Implementing the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding: Geneva. Published on 3-5 February 2003
• Optimal growth and maturation¹⁶WHO, Global strategy on infant and young child feeding. Published on 2003 ,¹⁷Jansen, et al. Dev Rev. Published on 2008;28:503-21 ,¹⁸Hahn-Holbrook, et al. Womens Health Psychol. Published on 2012;17:414-39 ,¹⁹Dias, et al. J Affect Disord. Published on 2015;171:142-54 ,²⁰Stuebe, et al. J Perinatol. Published on (2009) 30(3), 155-62 ,²¹Susman, et al. Am J Psych. Published on 1988;145(4):498-501
• Optimal brain and eye development²²Brunton, et al. J Neuroendocrinol. Published on 2008; 20(6): 764-76 ,²³Handbook of Attachment, Second Edition: Theory, Research, and Clinical; Jude Cassidy & Philip R Shaver; Editie 2, Uitgever Guilford Press. Published on 2008; ISBN 1606235842, 9781606235843 ,²⁴Lönnerdal B O, J Nutr. Published on 1986;116(4):499-513
• Optimal cognitive development²⁵Mennella J A, Textbook on human lactation. Amarillo, TX: Hartmann PE, Hale T, editors, Hale Publishing. Published on 2007:403–14 ,²⁶Mennella J A, et al. Pediatr. Published on 2001;107:e88 ,²⁷Hanson, et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Published on 2003;987:199-206

Breastfeeding has positive effects on mothers too

Alongside the numerous benefits for infants, breastfeeding also has many benefits for the mother. In the short term, breastfeeding can help with post-partum weight loss²⁸Wiklund, et al. Public Health Nutrition. Published on 2012;15:67-74 ,²⁹McClure, et al. Obesity (Siver Spring). Published on 2011;19:2205-13 and may have a positive influence on mental health.³⁰Dias, et al. J Affect Dis. Published on 2015;171:142-54 ,³¹Susman, et al. Am J Psychiatr. Published on 1988; 145(4): 498-501 ,³²Brunton, et al. J Neuroendocrinol . Published on 2008; 20(6):764-76 In the long term, breastfeeding mothers have a reduced risk of reproductive cancers³³Stuebe, et al. J Perinatol. Published on 2009;30(3):155-62 ,³⁴Ip S, et al. Breastfeeding Med. Published on 2009;4(S1):S-17 ,³⁵Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Lancet, Published on 2002;360(9328):187-95 ,³⁶Luan, et al. Am J Clin Nutr . Published on 2013;98(4):1020-31 as well as a reduced risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.³⁷Dewey KG, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. Published on 1993;58(2):162-66 ,³⁸Chouwdhury Acta Paediatr, Published on 2015 ,³⁹Schwarz E B, et al. Am J Med. Published on 2010;123(9), 863-e1 ,⁴⁰Stuebe A M/ et al. J Am Med Assoc. Published on 2005;294(20):2601-2610

Human milk: psychological and physiological benefits for the first six months – and beyond.

The healthy growth and development of children is firmly rooted in their nutritional intake during their first 1000 days of life. Breastfeeding is the best possible nutrition an infant can receive, with the WHO recommending human milk as the sole source of nutrition for the first six months of life. But the benefits of breastfeeding go far beyond the delivery of nutrition. Breastfeeding enhances not only the bond between infant and mother,⁴¹Jansen, et al. Developmental review. Published on 2008;28:503-521 ,⁴²Hahn-Hobrook, et al. Women’s health Psychology . Published on 2012;17:414-439 but also both of their emotional development.⁴³Jansen, et al. Developmental review. Published on 2008;28:503-521 ,⁴⁴Hahn-Hobrook, et al. Women’s health Psychology . Published on 2012;17:414-439 ,⁴⁵Anderson, et al. Pediatrics. Published on 2011;129(1):132-140 ,⁴⁶Handbook of Attachment, Second Edition, Theory, Research and Clinical, Jude Cassidy & Phillip R Shaver, Edite 2, Utgever Guilford Press. Published on 2006; ISBN 1606235842, 9781606235843 In addition, human milk also has a variety of physiological benefits, including positive influence on the infant’s immune system and the development of a healthy, functioning gut, as well as enabling the development of taste preferences later in life.⁴⁷Lonnerdal B O, J Nutr. Published on 1986;116(4):499-513 ,⁴⁸Vaglio, et al. Communicative & integrative Biology. Published on 2009;2-3;297-281 , ⁴⁹Cooke, et al. Appetite. Published on 2011;57(3):808-811

The documents below outline our conviction that human milk is the optimal nutrition for infant feeding.