Hooded seal mothers make 22 liters of breast milk a day, and their thirsty pups are weaned in just four days as they grow from 55 to 110 pounds.

A black bear mom feeds her cubs for two years, but she sleeps through the first three months of breastfeeding.

These cases make human breastfeeding seem pretty middle-of-the-road. It's recommended mothers do it exclusively for six months, then add solid food while continuing to breastfeed for 12 months or longer.

Unfortunately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 47% of babies are exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months, and about 25% are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. That's risky for a child's health.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered that when babies are given solid foods at or before 3 months of age it changes the mix of bacteria in their gut biome. That throws off metabolic and immune functions and increases the child's risk of obesity, eczema, asthma, and allergies to specific foods, pollen, and more.

If possible, mothers should breastfeed exclusively for six months, or supplement with formula — only introducing solid food after that.

Don't use work as an excuse. Most employers have to provide a safe, clean area for you to pump breastmilk, which can be placed in an insulated cooler with ice packs for up to 24 hours. It can be refrigerated at home for four days.

Not going to use it in four days? Freeze it in 2- to 4-ounce single-serve containers. After thawing, don't microwave or refreeze.