BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING TO MOTHER AND CHILD- A LITERATURE REVIEW

Dr. Jagdish Dubal*

ABSTRACT

Breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. Breastfeeding is the greatest of gifts, from Mother Nature to Human Infants. Breastfeeding provides a tight emotional bonding between mother and nursing infant. This bonding enhances the mother's love, availability and protection for her child. There are both short and long term health benefits to mothers who breastfeed. Such mothers have decreased postpartum blood loss and more rapid involution of the uterus. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk give unique nutritional and non nutritional advantages to both infant and the mother and, in turn, optimize infant, child, and adult health as well as child growth and development. So infant feeding should not be considered as a lifestyle choice but rather as a basic health issue.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Health, Infant, Mother, Milk.