Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, or natural feeding, is a way to feed babies with the milk from the breasts. In present-day nature, breastfeeding is only known among mammals, though there is some evidence for the existence of breastfeeding dinosaurs in the past. Further, the book of Lamentations, believed to have been written by Jeremiah, tells us that "sea monsters [תנין] draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones" (KJV).

Breastfeeding involves a complex combination of anatomic, physiological and behavioral features of both the mother and the baby, including milk production and its hormonal and neurological regulation in the mother, and sucking reflex and digestive capabilities in the baby.

Benefits of breastfeeding
In humans, breastfeeding, as opposed to artificial feeding, can benefit the infant and the mother in multiple ways.

Infants
Infants who breastfeed will prevent or ease the respiratory tract sicknesses, receive antibodies such as bile salt stimulated lipase, lactoferrin and immunoglobulin, prevent or lower the chance of receiving infections,   prevent SIDS, have higher intelligence,     have a lower chance of diabetes,  have a lower chance of childhood obesity, have less of a tendency to develop allergic diseases, and have less necrotizing enterocolitis.

Mothers
Mothers who breastfeed their children also receive many benefits including the releasing of relaxant hormones, weight loss, less risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer,  bone re-mineralization, and less risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Links

 * Ica stones, some of which depicting breastfeeding dinosaurs.
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breastfeeding