Breastfeeding is portable, nutritious, always served at the right temperature and free, said breastfeeding counsellor Terry Lyon…

Breast milk is the optimal nutritious snack because it contains the perfect balance of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids resulting in optimal brain development.

The benefits are not just for babes - their mothers’ risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer is greatly reduced if she breastfeeds her child.

Another benefit is that it helps most moms make a quicker return to their pre-pregnancy weight…

Despite the benefits, only 19 per cent of Canadian women breastfeed exclusively after six months. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that babies should receive only breast milk for the first six months of life.

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until the baby is four years old.

Source: SaanichNEWS
http://www.saanichnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=28&cat=46&id=739236&more=