Breast-feeding


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Breast-feeding


Breast-feeding is feeding a baby breast milk directly from the breast or from a bottle after expressing the milk with a pump. Breast milk provides the best nutrition for a baby.

All major professional medical organizations that focus on children, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommend breast-feeding for at least the first year of a baby's life. This recommendation includes feeding a baby only breast milk for the first 6 months. Other foods, such as cereal, are then gradually introduced while continuing to breast-feed.

Credits


Author Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Denele Ivins
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Last Updated May 10, 2007

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Last updated: May 10, 2007
Author: Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Editors: Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC

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