The United States like to think of itself as a world leader. Yet, America has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world with very low rates of initiation and extremely low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Breastfed babies are protected against bacterial meningitis, have lower rate of pneumonia, allergies, ear infections, asthma, gastrointestinal illness, inflammatory illness juvenile diabetes, childhood lymphoma, and learning and behavioral difficulties. One study has shown that premature breastfed babies had higher IQs than artificially-fed babies. Breastfed babies also have lower rates of dental decay and obesity and are less likely to develop heart disease in adulthood.
Continued lactation is a powerful method of suppressing ovulation.
Even though breastfeeding can be an effective method for limiting conception, it should not be relied upon as individual hormonal levels determine the length of natural infertility for each woman. Contraceptive measures should be started by mothers who wish to prevent pregnancy if they are supplementing with formula, when menses resumes, or when the child is 6 months old. Wet nursing has been around as long as there have been babies. One legendary wet nurse was Judith Waterford who in 1831, on her 81st birthday, could still produce breastmilk. In her prime, she unfailing produced two quarts of breastmilk a day.