Guwahati, Feb. 11 -- Tisha Felder, University of South Carolina and Joynelle Jackson, University of South Carolina

Four babies are born every second in the world, and there are only two options for their first food at birth: human milk or formula.

Global and U.S. health authorities agree, however, that human milk provides the optimal nutrition for infants. The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life. Following the introduction of solid foods, these organizations recommend continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond.

Human milk can be given to infants directly through breastfeeding or by pumping or expressing human milk int...