WHAT THE BREAST DOES FOR THE BABY, AND WHAT THE BABY DOES FOR THE BREAST

Breastfeeding is nature's effective method of child-spacing, proovided that feeding is exclusive and prolonged. Yet, its popularity has been limited in modern societies for a range of cultural, social and medic al reasons. It is a matter of surprise and regret that no medical spec ialty has claimed overall 'ownership' of the physiology, function, pat hology and management of this conspicuous organ, the female breast. Th e breast has major benefits for the baby in protecting against debilit ating diarrhoea, necrotising enterocolitis and certain allergies, as w ell as providing highly specific nutritional requirements for the huma n neonate. It is less widely appreciated that, in addition to its majo r child-spacing benefits for the mother, breastfeeding also provides m ajor protection against the development of breast cancer, up to 50% re duction in incidence in one study. Few other measures can approach thi s.