Jan, you said:
"Has anyone ever compiled a list of the "advantages of breastfeeding" --
that
is, advantages to mom and baby for feeding at the breast vs. feeding
breastmilk from a bottle....
What else?  Remember, we are not giving the benefits of breastmilk vs.
formula here, but feeding at the breast rather than feeding from a bottle."

I would love such a list (I coudl use it at a talk I am doing soon!)  Maybe
we can compile collectively?  Anyone want to be editor?

I would vote to add the bit I speculate will not happen if the baby does not
go to the breast -- when the baby is exposed to something and passes it to
the mum, who makes an antibody targetted to this microbe and feeds it back
to the baby at the next feed (is there a short name for this process?).
Maybe cuddling would do it, but I would say it is probably that the baby
would need to be *at least* nuzzling at the naked breast.

Magda Sachs
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK

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