Breast feeding is extremely important.  This not only helps to bond the baby with the mother, but breast feeding also provides beneficial bacteria for the gut that support the immune system, control pathogens, generate vitamins for the body and help to improve mineral absorption.  Another little known fact about breast milk is that it is not a singular milk.  It actually changes composition to meet the babies growth. It starts out antibody rich to support the immune system.  Then it increases in fat content, which aids in the formation of the nervous system.  Then the protein content increases to aid with muscle development.  Then the mineral content increases to help with bone formation. Cow’s milk and cow’s milk based formulas cannot do this, and contain larger hard to digest proteins. Cow’s milk has also been linked to the development of juvenile diabetes.  Most commercial cow’s milk also contains the very powerful carcinogen formaldehyde. 

One thing with breast feeding though.  I do not recommend it in cases where women have silicone filled breast implants.  Studies have shown that leaking silicone can pass through breast milk.  And once silicone has entered the body it does not leave.  And it can lead to autoimmune connective tissue disorders.