Breast-Feeding May Protect Infants From Respiratory and GI Infections. Breast-feeding until age 4 months is linked to lower rates of respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) infections, according to a study reported online June 21, 2010 in Pediatrics. Medscape Pediatrics

"According to the World Health Organization report in 2001, exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months vs 4 months is recommended, and further research regarding the benefits of prolonged breast-feeding is needed.

The goal of this study, which was embedded in the Generation R Study, a study from fetal life onward in the Netherlands, was to evaluate the associations of duration of exclusive breast-feeding with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), and GI tract infections in infancy

This article goes onto mention that the infants who were exclusively breast-fed for at least 6 months also showed lower rates of these infections, but this was NOT true for those infants that were partially breast-fed even for 6 months.
 

It's exciting to see more research showing the benefit of breastfeeding.  

This article highlights that there is benefit with exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months ~ your child may suffer less infections from your protective breast milk.  Yet this same breast milk, may not protect him if he is also supplemented with formula.  Hmmm, it makes you think...why is that?  Obviously, we need more studies to find out.

I recommend exclusive breastfeeding when possible for the first 6 months of life, and encourages mothers to continue breastfeeding until at least 12 months of age.  Breastfeeding can be a REAL stressor for moms.  Be sure to surround yourself with others who can support you during this process.  La Leche League is a great place to start.  

Breast milk is REAL nutrition ~ the milk mother nature intended for our infants.  Be sure to make it top priority to feed your infant breast milk everyday, and strive for exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.  Formulas, even organic ones are not the REAL deal, there is no way to mass produce the milk specifically designed for your child.