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Breastfeeding and Child Spacing

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Childbirth Across Cultures

Part of the book series: Science Across Cultures: the History of Non-Western Science ((SACH,volume 5))

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Abstract

Breastfeeding is an inexpensive, natural source of nature’s perfectly defined food for infants. In addition to optimal nutrition, breastfeeding provides infants with natural immunity to childhood diseases through antibodies in the mother’s milk, thereby increasing health and decreasing mortality. If both are in good health, breastfeeding can provide an important bonding experience between mother and child. But breastfeeding has another benefit as well: suppressing ovulation and delaying the return of menstruation, which effectively acts as a natural contraceptive to increase child spacing. Exclusive breastfeeding is a very active component of culture in many countries, where it is often used to lengthen the time between births of successive children.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Passport Health Colorado, Colorado, USA

    Rebecca Sundhagen (Nurse Manager)

Authors
  1. Rebecca Sundhagen
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Correspondence to Rebecca Sundhagen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hampshire College, West St 893, Amherst, 01002, U.S.A.

    Helaine Selin

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Sundhagen, R. (2009). Breastfeeding and Child Spacing. In: Selin, H. (eds) Childbirth Across Cultures. Science Across Cultures: the History of Non-Western Science, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2599-9_2

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