Currently there are 9 million infant deaths a year. Breastfeeding saves an estimated 6 million additional deaths from infectious disease alone. Provides Initial Immunization. Breastmilk also aids the development of the infant's own immune system.
Diarrhea is the leading cause of death among infants in developing countries.
Infants under two months old who are not breastfed are 25 times as likely to die of diarrhea than infants exclusively breastfed. Continued breastfeeding during diarrhea reduces dehydration, severity, duration, and negative nutritional consequences of diarrhea. Provides Perfect Nutrition. Breastmilk is a perfect food which cannot be duplicated. It is more easily digested than any substitute, and it actually alters in composition to meet the changing nutritional needs of the growing infant.