They can live on breast milk alone for the first six months and then on a combination of breast milk and 'family' food until the child is weaned. In addition to being the most ecological and economical food source, breast milk protects babies from illness and infections. They more a baby receives, the greater the protective effect. Breastfed babies receive optimal nutrition for physical and neurological development. As a result, studies show higher IQs and less tooth decay associated with children who have been breastfed.
Breastfed babies have less heart disease and cancer later in life.
Breastfeeding provides the mother and child with a physical closeness that strengthens the bond between them. Mothers receive immediate health benefits including reduced bleeding after birth and a quicker return to their prepregnancy physical condition. Breastfeeding also may space out pregnancies by delaying ovulation. Breastfeeding reduced the mother's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The female breast consists mainly of 15 to 20 lobes of milk-secreting glands embedded in fatty tissue.