Breast milk has ingredients that cannot be found in infant formula. You can provide it for as short or as long as you want. Learning to breastfeed may be challenging and there are lactation specialists and nurses that can help you in the hospital and after.  Even small amounts of breast milk will give you and your baby the following health advantages: Breast milk is more easily digested. This is important for premature babies. Breast milk helps protect babies from necrotizing enterocolitis a serious bowel infection. Breast milk provides protection against infections, such as colds, ear infections and meningitis. Moms of preemies have more infection fighting cells in their breast milk. Breast milk helps PREVENT allergies. Breast-milk-fed babies have higher IQ’s. Breast milk babies have less SIDS (crib death). Breastfeeding for 6 months or more gives extra protection to babies against diabetes, childhood cancers and obesity. Moms who breastfeed have less risk of breast and ovarian cancer.