Breastfeeding gives newborns the best possible start in life, Dr. Nancy Cohen, of California's Kaiser Permanente told a local wire service.

Even thought the benefits of breastfeeding have been confirmed by many studies, many women quit after two weeks, she said.

The baby may not be latching on to the nipple properly or may be losing weight, or a woman may suffer a breast infection, sore nipples or not know how to coordinate nursing when she returns to work.

Cohen suggests the solution is education. Even though it may seem like a natural activity when a child is born, both mother and infant need to learn specific skills in order to successfully nurse.

"It's a matter of positioning, the mother's comfort, timing and preparation. And extra effort needs to be made to help working moms who learn how to use a pump," she told the wire.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises nursing begin within the first hour after birth and continue for at least a full year; and that mother's milk should be the child's only food for the first six months.

Studies increasingly confirm that nothing is healthier for babies than breast milk, Cohen said. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop allergies, ear infections, asthma, eczema, stomach upset and, according to a recent study, obesity in childhood. Mother's milk also enhances brain development.

But it's not just for the babies - breastfeeding benefits moms, too. It lowers breast cancer risk and speeds up weight loss after childbirth, Cohen said.

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