Breast milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in infant formula, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“There are 4,000 species of mammals, and they all make a different milk,” says Ruth Lawrence, MD, professor of pediatrics and obstetrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, New York, and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Human milk is made for human infants and it meets all their specific nutrient needs.”

Experts say your baby—and you—gain maximum benefits when you breastfeed for the first six months. They agree that benefits multiply when you can continue through the baby’s first year—and then beyond.

Plan Ahead

Let your doctor and the baby’s pediatrician know that you want to breastfeed. They can lend the support you need. Many hospitals, clinics, and pediatricians’ offices have lactation consultants on staff to answer questions and help you prepare. To find an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in your area, log on to the International Lactation Consultant Association at www.ilca.org.

Perfect Nutrition for Baby

The first fluid the mother produces is colostrum. Its nutrient levels, such as zinc, are precisely geared to the infant’s needs.

The first milk that comes in is rich in fat and fatty acids, important to the early development of the baby’s brain and nervous system as well as the immune system. The fat content of breast milk later decreases as its protein and carbohydrate levels increase to promote the infant’s growth and development.

Breastfeeding helps protect baby from infections and allergies since it provides antibodies from Mom. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This helps protect baby from a range of diseases: pneumonia, bronchitis, staph infections, flu, ear infections, and even long-term health problems, including diabetes and asthma. Breast milk is easy for baby to digest, meaning fewer stomach upsets and less spitting up than bottle-fed infants.

Added Benefits

Breastfeeding is good for Mom, too, allowing you time to sit down and relax every few hours while bonding with your baby. Nursing also helps the uterus contract back to its original size and helps you lose weight. Mom’s milk supply is always ready and at the ideal temperature (no formula to mix or bottles to warm!)—and it’s free.

Nutrition for Mom

Continue the healthy eating pattern you followed during pregnancy to get the nutrients you need. Caring for a new baby is physically demanding, so you’ll need plenty of energy. Focus on eating a well-balanced diet of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and foods that provide plenty of protein, calcium, and iron. Nursing mothers also need plenty of fluids, so drink at least six to eight glasses of pure water daily.

Because of concerns about mercury levels in fish, FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend eating no more than 6 ounces per week of canned albacore, or white, tuna. Also limit yourself to 12 ounces a week of light tuna and other cooked fish. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish (also called golden or white snapper) because of their higher mercury levels.

Caffeine and alcohol can get into your milk and dehydrate you, so avoid them, or at least limit the amount you drink. As little as one alcoholic beverage can inhibit your body’s ability to produce milk. Since drinking larger amounts regularly is believed to negatively impact your baby’s development, you may decide to abstain. Don’t smoke if you’re nursing. It has been found that smoking can negatively impact the amount of milk produced.