Merits of extended breast feeding

Breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond is based on the fact that breast milk is a [key organic source of DHA (Omega fatty acids), vitamin A, calcium and proteins and provides protection against infectious agents][1].

In 2008 the American Academy of Family Physicians said this in their [position paper][2]:


> It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between
> two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable
> regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding,
> including continued immune protection, better social adjustment and
> having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer
> women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast
> cancer. There is no evidence that extended breastfeeding is harmful to
> mother or child.


[Many scientific studies prove][3] the point that longer breastfeeding [enhances the
neurodevelopment of infants][4] and their intellectual and scholastic ability in later life. **from one of these studies increase in the IQ by breastfeeding is directly related to the duration of breastfeeding**. These benefits are strongest for the infants of low birth weight on breastmilk feeding. It is found that Poor who are more likely to
enter into child malnutrition are more likely to benefit from enhanced optimal breastfeeding
practices.

longer breastfeeding promotes suppression of [following Diseases and benefits to the infant][5] :

- Enhanced stereoscopic vision
- Neuromotor development
- Lower chances of obesity in Adult life
- [Increase in height][6]
- suppression of gastrointestinal and respiratory infectious morbidity
- suppression of atopic eczema
- suppression of asthma

[Benefits for the Mother][7]:

- [Weight loss][8]
- lower chances of breast cancer
- lower chances of premenopausal ovarian cancer
- suppression of hypertension
- suppression of type 2 diabetes
- suppression of myocardial infarction (heart attack).

**WHO recommends that breastfeeding should continue for two years or more without accurately establishing a maximum duration for breastfeeding.In addition, there is insufficient evidence on the advantages and disadvantages of continuing breastfeeding after two years.**


[It is unfortunate that about many mothers are unable to breast feed even upto 1 year][9]. This may be because We’ve sexualized the breast so much that people have forgotten breasts are for breast-feeding. There is A [Harvard Study which looks at both health AND cost outcomes for U.S. mothers][10] if they were to breastfeed for 1 year.The study found that if 90% of mothers breastfed, U.S. women would significantly lower their risk of heart attack, breast cancer, and hypertension. On a macro level, further investment in lactation support for moms could prevent $17.4 billion in maternal health costs.

Many mothers have shared [positive Experiences of extended breastfeeding in this article][11]


[1]: http://www.bpni.org/information_sheets/IS-9.pdf
[2]: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/b/breastfeedingpositionpaper.html
[3]: http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1721196/pdf/v084p00F23.pdf%E2%80%8E
[4]: http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1721196/pdf/v084p00F23.pdf%E2%80%8E
[5]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15384567
[6]: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/73/5/959.short
[7]: http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2013/07000/Cost_Analysis_of_Maternal_Disease_Associated_With.17.aspx
[8]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15384567
[9]: http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/04/why-most-moms-cant-reach-their-own-breast-feeding-goals/
[10]: http://www.upmc.com/media/NewsReleases/2013/Pages/study-shows-breastfeeding-reduces-maternal-health-disease.aspx
[11]: http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/10/extended-breast-feeding-is-it-more-common-than-we-think/