Simona Rajtar Osredkar
Zdravstveni dom Ivančna Gorica, Ivančna Gorica, Slovenija

Abstract

The composition of breast milk is complex. It contains a variable amount of immunoactive molecules, oligosaccharides, metabolites, vitamins and other nutrients as well as living cells. Breast milk changes the child’s gut microbiome and thus their immune development and affects the occurrence and duration of acute infections. Research results show that long-term breastfeeding can also prevent chronic diseases. In this article, we want to acquaint the primary pediatrician with the advantages of prolonged breastfeeding an overview of the findings in the current literature on breastfeeding after the first year of lactation.

Key words: human milk, prolonged breastfeeding, infections