The only source of protection for your baby as soon as you give birth is the breast feeding. It will help in promoting good health of your baby.
Instead of giving formula, you can give your baby the breast milk which not only help in the health of your baby but will also help you save money on buying those expensive formula. It has been found out that babies who are formula fed are more often get sicker than the normal breast fed babies.
If there is a family history of allergies, breast milk will help protect your baby from getting in allergens by supplying the necessary antibodies and will protect the sensitivities in food. Later your baby would have developed its own defense mechanism to protect these.
Breast feeding will also help in alignment of the jaw of your baby and will have better cheekbone development.
Breast milk is also available any time of the day and will not get over like formula and gives the baby the necessary nutrients like minerals and vitamins.
Breast feeding will also have benefits for the mother too. It will help in contractions after the child birth and will also help in developing the uterus into the right shape, etc.