I breast fed both my boys. The oldest was a big baby and I made the addition of ceral and such at 2.5 months with the approval of his doctor. He was breast fed until 10 months. The youngest got nothing but breast milk until 6 months at which time adult table food was added. He refused to eat baby food. I continued to breast feed him until about 1.5 years. Both boys are healthy and rarely sick. When they do get sick it is minor. I was lucky in that I didn't work at the time. It was very difficult financially. I think work is the main reason many women do not breast feed.
There is a HUGE stigma placed on breastfeeding in public spaces. A good question is where to breast feed outside of the home? Many changes in pediatrics since the '70's for sure. We need to support mothers who take the best choice for their babies! My wife breastfed our son for a year and he's QUITE healthy! (10lbs, 3oz - 3/15/03)
As a side note: The magazine Working Mother is a joke, more like CEO Woman With No Time For Being A Mom. Also, my wife just finished the book The Nanny Diaries, and it is sad to see inside track on how the rich "outsource" mothering.
Yes, but are the effects achieved because these mothers are willing to care just a little bit more and would be attentive in other areas of the child's life as they grow up, or are the results achieved because mother's milk is more healthy OR because of.....