A friend of mine found an interesting article about some new studies on breastfeeding. Researchers at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Australia found a correlation between breastfeeding and children's mental health.

Babies in their study who were nursed longer appeared to cope better with stress. The researchers noted that these effects lasted throughout childhood. The researchers followed their subjects up to the age of 14 years old.

Meanwhile, I just found out that one of the faculty members at our university is advocating local research on breastfeeding among our pre-med students. Only in recent years have I learned how scant the information on breastfeeding is in many parts of our country.

On the one hand, the number of breastfeeding-friendly hospitals is increasing, and more and more mothers as working as breastfeeding consultants.

However, I still hear too many stories of women from all walks of life holding their newborn babies the day after giving birth, trying to breastfeed, but not receiving any support nor correct information from the nurses or midwives. I look forward to the day when it becomes standard in every hospital or birthing clinic to give new mothers the information they need to start breastfeeding, should they so wish.

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