THURSDAY, March 1, 2012 MedPage Today — Every infant should begin life with six months of exclusive breastfeeding, followed by another six months or longer with other foods gradually added to the childs diet, according to an updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

These statistics are stunning…take a look at the link below:

• 72 percent reduction in hospitalization for respiratory infections.
• 64 percent reduction in the incidence of gastrointestinal infections.
• 58 percent to 77 percent reduction in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis.
• 36 percent to 45 percent reduction in the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
• 27 percent to 42 percent reduction in the incidence of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eczema.
• 52 percent reduction in the risk of celiac disease.
• 31 percent reduction in the risk of inflammatory bowel disease.
• 15 percent to 30 percent reduction in the incidence of obesity in adolescences and adulthood.
• 15 percent to 20 percent reduction in the risk of childhood leukemia and lymphoma.

via Breastfeeding Is Health, Not Lifestyle Choice – Pregnancy 101 – EverydayHealth.com.