Breast Milk: A Psychoneuroimmunologic Perspective for Mother-Infant Dyads

What's so miraculous about human breast milk (HBM)? Human milk has evolved into an individualized synergist nutritional system that contains elements to protect and support the mother as well as the baby. The evidence is in the details that will be showcased herein to describe the specialized components in HBM that make it a superior nutrition for all babies, including vulnerable infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Using a psychoneuroimmunologic perspective on HBM, this review describes the endocrine, immunomodulatory and psychoneurologic benefits to infants and mothers.