Breast Milk: a Public Health Priority

Substantial evidence documents the superiority of breastfeeding for mothers and breast milk for babies. Breast milk, with nutritional but also functional components, is a real biological system. According to present knowledge, it is associated not only with improved parameters of growth, but also to a better neuronal-behavioral development. Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition for infants and is associated with decreased risk for infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. The importance of breastfeeding and the increasing evidence about the risks of not breastfeeding has put the support, promotion, and protection of breastfeeding at the forefront of many government and public health policies. The use of resources and the effort to promote and support breastfeeding should be the first investment for the health of children around the world. As maternity practices and hospital policies are known to influence breastfeeding, implement the Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care must be a public health priority.