Breastfeeding and Anaesthesia

Abstract

Breastfeeding confers significant health benefits on the mother (reduced incidence of breast and ovarian cancer) and baby (reduced risk of sudden infant death by more than a third and in low-and middle-income countries it has been estimated that about half of all diarrhoeal episodes and one third of respiratory infections in infants could be avoided by breastfeeding). There is some evidence for babies that it may also protect against obesity and diabetes in adult life. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months followed by a continuation of breastfeeding with the introduction of complementary foods for two years or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant.