What is the most natural form of human bonding you can think of? Most people would say that the first thing that comes to mind is a mother and her baby. One way mothers and their babies present this connection is through the art of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding dates back to the dawn of humanity. Robert S. Mendelsohn comments that “breastmilk, time-tested for millions of years, is the best nutrient for babies because it is nature's perfect food.” Why is breastfeeding the healthiest option not only for the baby but also for the mother? Lately breastfeeding has become a controversial topic, which should not even be discussed. The benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the cons. It has been shown that breastfed babies are less likely to contract the following diseases: asthma, diabetes, leukemia and sudden infant death (SIDS). It not only benefits the baby, but also the mother. Mothers who breastfeed their babies have been shown to have a lower risk of breast/ovarian cancer and postpartum depression. The skin-to-skin contact associated with breastfeeding benefits the mother and baby and strengthens the bond created between the two. As a nation, the United States has reached an all-time high with 77% of babies starting breastfeeding at birth. The number of mothers choosing breastfeeding over bottle feeding is increasing every year. There are many organizations that encourage natural breastfeeding for babies, such as La Leche League and Best Fed Beginnings. Best Fed Beginnings states that “We now begin skin-to-skin contact within five minutes of vaginal delivery and keep the baby there for at least an hour or until breastfeeding begins.” This method is currently used at Central Virginia Baptist Hospital to illustrate...... half of document......Benefits and Barriers of Nutrition: Economics. Np, nd Web. March 30, 2014. “Breastfeeding Benefits and Barriers: Nutritional Benefits.” Benefits and Barriers of Breastfeeding: Nutritional Benefits. Np, nd Web. March 30, 2014. “Breastfeeding Fact Sheet.” Womenshealth.gov. Np, nd Web. March 30, 2014. “Breastfeeding Report Card 2013.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 31, 2013. Web. March 30, 2014. Deskin, Ashley, and Susan Wyant. “Mothers' Discussion.” Personal interview. March 26, 2014.Eisenberg, Arlene, Heidi Eisenberg. Murkoff and Sandee Eisenberg. Hathaway. What to expect from the first year. New York: Workman, 1989. Print."Breastfeeding Quotes, Breastfeeding Support Sayings, Feeding Babies." Breastfeeding quotes, sayings to support breastfeeding, breastfeeding. Np, nd Web. March 30. 2014.