- December 31, 2024
- Antibodies, Babies, Breast Milk, Breastfeeding, Mother, Oxytocin, Women's Health
The Power of Breastfeeding
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola
Reviewed by Keith W. Vrbicky, Sr., MD
December 30, 2024
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Breast milk provides a unique, dynamic blend of antibodies, hormones and stem cells that adapt to infant needs, offering superior benefits compared to formula feeding
- The formula industry’s marketing tactics and hospital practices have normalized formula feeding, undermining breastfeeding through medical institutional funding and strategic advertising campaigns
- Oxytocin released during breastfeeding strengthens mother-child bonding, reduces postpartum health risks and helps regulate babies’ emotional development while providing long-term health benefits
- Modern medical interventions and arbitrary growth charts create unnecessary barriers to breastfeeding, often leading to premature formula supplementation despite normal infant development patterns
- Extended breastfeeding, naturally occurring between 2.5 to 7 years, faces cultural stigma in Western societies, despite its benefits for immune system development and emotional resilience