There is no doubt that breast milk is the best sustenance your baby can get from birth to six months. The balance of nutrients in breast milk is far superior to that of formula milk.

• Antibodies, which help with defense against diseases
• High levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids, which are essential for healthy brain development
• Higher amounts of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K
• Higher levels of selenium, chromium and manganese, all essential for development of the immune system
• Useful microbes that help establish a healthy gut environment, essential for healthy digestion and the establishment of a strong immune system
• Less sugar than milk formulas

When you breastfeed your baby, you're providing him with the best possible infant food. No product has ever been as time-tested as mother's milk. Human milk contains all the nutrients your newborn needs and is more easily digested and assimilated than any other infant food.

Putting your newborn to the breast within minutes after the delivery causes the uterus to contract and reduces the flow of blood. It also results in the uterus getting back in shape more quickly than it would if you were not breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also uses up extra calories and a breastfeeding mother's metabolism changes, which enables most mothers to lose weight gradually without dieting.

Breastfeeding encourages a normal weight gain for your particular baby, which is good insurance against a future tendency toward obesity.

There is no better safeguard for your baby against the onset of allergies than breastfeeding. A diet of milk alone for about the first six months of his life readies his body for other foods. It protects him against infection as well as allergies. Living substances that are unique to your milk inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and viruses in his still maturing system. With fewer health problems, you can look forward to having a happier healthy baby.

Brain development is essential for the human infant and human milk contains all the right components to aid the development of baby's brain and nervous system. One study showed that premature infants who had been given human milk scored significantly higher on IQ tests at age 7½ and 8 years of age than children who had received formula.

Breastfeeding also protects a mother from certain health problems. Studies show that mothers who breastfeed for even a few months are less likely to develop breast cancer than women who have given birth but never breastfed. Breastfeeding also protects against ovarian cancer, urinary tract infections, and osteoporosis.

Breastfeeding results in an appreciable saving of time, effort, and money when compared to formula feeding. Minutes and hours of a mother's time are not diverted to the preparation of baby's milk. Feeding the baby is a time to relax. Day and night, automatically and accurately, milk is made and stored in the breasts. The temperature always ideal; the supply is pure and practically unlimited.