Breastfeeding a new baby has been important since the beginning of mankind. As far back as 1800 BC Hammurabi's Code regulated the behavior and the health of wet nurses (a wet nurse is someone who nurses another's baby regularly). In Sparta, Greece, Spartan women were even required to nurse their eldest son. This was done since this was the child who was expected to inherit the family name. It is interesting though that at other times during history breastfeeding has been seen as something that only lower class or poor people did. For example, in the early 1800's in France, most upper class women hired wet nurses for their infants. In modern times breastfeeding has gone from being popular to being shunned and is now popular again. But contrary to what some people would have you believe breastfeeding is not always easy and automatic. Yet by gaining knowledge and understanding of the process you can have a successful experience breastfeeding. If you are a parent (mother or father) who is interested in learning about breastfeeding here is some information you need to know-

Why should I breastfeed?
There are many good reasons why you should breastfeed your baby. Here are just a few:

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. Breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's continuing growth and development.
• Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. The immature digestion of a baby can handle breast milk much easier.
• There are some health risks to your baby if you do not breastfeed. This is because breast milk has agents (called antibodies) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Some studies show that babies who are not exclusively breastfed for 6 months are more likely to develop a wide range of infections diseases including ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses. They can be sick more often and have more doctors' visits. It is reported that infants who are not breastfed have a 21% higher post neonatal infant mortality rate in the United States.

• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier for mom to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens bleeding you might have after giving birth.
• Some studies also indicate that breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Breastfeeding helps bond with your baby. Physical contact is extremely important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.

How do I know that my baby is getting enough milk from breastfeeding?
One of the main concerns of new moms who are breastfeeding is whether or not their new baby is getting enough milk from breastfeeding. Whether you deliver your baby in a hospital (as most U.S. births) or have home birth you can receive education about breastfeeding from the professionals who attend your birth. Whether nurse, lactation specialist or midwife these are the people who can help you with the specifics of breastfeeding. But for all moms when they begin breastfeeding they will be feeding their baby Colostrums. This is also known as "first milk" which looks like a thick yellowish milk. Even though it may look like only a small amount, this is the only food your baby needs. In the beginning, you can expect your baby to lose a small amount of weight. This is very normal and is not resulting from breastfeeding. Keep in mind that as long as the baby does not lose more than 7 to 10% of his or her birth weight during the first three to five days, he is getting enough to eat. You can also tell if your baby is getting enough milk by keeping track of the number of wet and dirty diapers. In the first few days of your baby's life, when your milk is low in volume and high in nutrients, your baby will have only 1 or 2 wet diapers a day. After your milk supply has increased, your baby should be having 5 to 6 wet diapers and 3 to 4 dirty diapers every day. Be sure to consult your pediatrician if you are concerned about your baby's weight gain. You should visit your pediatrician sometime between three to five days after your baby's birth, and then again at two to three weeks of age. After you and your baby get home from the hospital, your baby will still need to eat about every one to two hours and should need several diaper changes. You may even need to wake your baby to feed him or her because babies are usually sleepy for the first month. In the first, early weeks after birth, you should wake your baby to feed if four hours have passed since the beginning of the feeding. Keep in mind that as your milk comes in after the baby is born, there will be more and more diaper changes. The baby's stools will most likely become runny, yellowish, and may have little white bumpy "seeds."

The bottom line is that you can feel confident that your baby is getting enough to eat because your breasts will regulate the amount of milk your baby needs. If your baby needs to eat less or more often, your breasts will decrease or increase the amount of milk they produce. If you want to keep up your milk supply when you give bottles of expressed breast milk for feedings, pump your milk when your baby gets a bottle.

Is it safe to take medications while breastfeeding?
You should always talk with your doctor before taking any medications. Most medication will pass into your milk in small amounts. If you take medication for a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma, your medication most likely will have already been studied in breastfeeding women, so you should be able to find information to help you make an informed decision with the help of your doctor. Keep in mind though that newer medications and medications for rare disorders may have less information available. The American Academy of Pediatrics also has information about many prescription and over-the-counter medications posted on their web site to help you make an informed decision.

How is breastfeeding different around the world?
To successfully feed an infant on non-human milk or formula, the following things are needed:

• Clean water.
• Milk or formula.
• Money to buy the milk or formula.
• A way to safely store the milk or formula.
• Containers for the milk or formula.
• Effective cleaning methods for the containers.

While in the Western world, these requirements are usually met. In a developing country, or a disaster situation, some or all of these basic requirements can be difficult, if not impossible to meet. This makes breastfeeding far more critical to a child's health in the developing world. Many developing countries encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies due to the increased risk of diarrhea due to contamination of bottles used in feeding breast milk substitutes. The main reason for this is that breast milk is clean since it can not become contaminated by bacteria. In areas of the developing world where sanitation is a problem there is no question that infants who are fed formula suffer from recurrent bouts of gastroenteritis leading to a poor nutritional state.  Studies have shown that in all countries of the world it is cheaper to breastfeed a baby then to feed a baby formula or other milk.  In addition many other countries have a much more liberal view of the role of breastfeeding mothers. 

How long should I breastfeed my baby?
Most pediatricians and child development experts recommend that babies should be fed with breast milk only (this means no formula) for the first six months of life.  It is felt that the longer a mom and baby breastfeeds, the greater the benefits are for both mom and baby. Other breast feeding proponents feel that babies should receive breast milk through the first year of life, or for as long as both you and your baby wish.  Keep in mind that solid foods can be added to your baby's diet, while you continue to breastfeed, when your baby is six months old. But for at least the first six months, breastfed babies do not need supplements of water, juice, or other fluids. The reasoning behind this is that these items can interfere with your milk supply if they are introduced during this time. Most women in the United States discontinue breastfeeding by 15 months.  Some choose to continue but societal feelings about breastfeeding often put pressure on the mom to wean baby.  Other countries around the world have much more liberal views of breastfeeding and have been found to breastfeed their children until the age of 3.  This is often done because of a more accepting view of breastfeeding and lack of economics to fortify the child's diet.