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101 Reasons to Breastfeed
Your Child
Written by Leslie Burby, brought to you by ProMoM.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it.
According to the most recent statement of the Academy, "Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick
newborns. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."
A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
(http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html)
- Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby
The American Dietetic Association promotes breastfeeding and believes that "the bonding that occurs during breastfeeding makes it a special
choice."
ADA Website: http://www.eatright.org
Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. "It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as
stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring."
Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in
the nipple and mammary gland.
Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30
- Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs
All babies need to be held. Studies have shown that premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked. There is no more
comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while breastfeeding. While many bottle-feeding parents are aware of the
importance of cradling their babies while offering the bottle, some are not. Even for parents with good intentions, there is always the temptation to
prop up a bottle next to the child, or, when the baby is a little older, to let the child hold his/her own bottle and sit alone. This is emotionally
unsatisfying to baby, and can be dangerous physically. An unsupervised child can choke. Also, propping up bottles overnight leads to tooth decay.
- Breast milk provides perfect infant nutrition
"Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it. The breastfed
infant is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development,
and all other short and long-term benefits."
A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (RE2729)
- Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer
It's been known for several years that breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of pre-menopausal breast cancer. Now a new study from China has
concluded that a woman who breastfeeds for 24 months of her life has only half the risk of developing breast cancer as a woman who breastfeeds for
1 - 6 months. Protection increases to 75% for those who breastfeed for a total of 109 months. This held true for both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal
cancers.
Zheng et al, "Lactation Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in Shandong Province, China" Am. J. Epidemiol. 152 (12): 1129
Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al. "Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer." N Engl J Med. 1994;330:81-87
- Formula feeding increases baby girls' risk of developing breast cancer in later life
Women who were formula-fed as infants have higher rates of breast cancer as adults. For both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, women who
were breastfed as children, even if only for a short time, had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who were bottle-fed as infants.
Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994 "Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer". Epidemiology 5:324-331
- Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q.
Human breast milk enhances brain development and improves congnitive development in ways that formula can not. One study has found that the average
I.Q. of 7 and 8 year children who had been breastfed as babies was 10 points higher than their bottle fed piers. All of the children involved had been
born prematurely and tube fed the human milk, indicating that the milk itself, not the act of breastfeeding, caused this difference in I.Q. level.
Another study to support this statement was done in New Zealand. An 18-year longitudinal study of over 1,000 children
found that those who were breastfed as infants had both higher intelligence and greater academic achievement than
children who were infant-formula fed.
Horwood and Fergusson, "Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Acadenic Outcomes", Jan 1998
Pediatrics Lucas, A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm."
Lancet, 1992; 339:261-262Vol. 101, No. 1
Morrow-Tlucak M, Haude RH, Ernhart CB. "Breastfeeding and cognitive development in the first 2 years of life".
Soc Sci Med. 1988:26;635-639
Lucas A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm". Lancet 1992;339:261-62
Wang YS, Wu SY. "The effect of exclusive breastfeeding on development and incidence of infection in infants."
J Hum Lactation. 1996; 12:27-30
- Breast milk is always ready and comes in a nicer package than formula does
Need we say more?
- Breast milk helps pass meconium
Babies are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines.
Colostrum, or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the infant's body.
- Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.
Formula provides neither of these benefits. "Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses
because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80% of the cells in breast
milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Breastfed babies are protected in varying
degrees from a number of illnesses including, pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza,
ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to what ever disease is present in
their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to as well."
Williams RD, "Breast-Feeding Best Bet for Babies",
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html
Koutras, A.K., "Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A in Breast Milk vs. Formula Feeding in Early Infancy".
J. Ped Gastro Nutr 1989.
- Breast milk is more digestible than formula
"Babies can digest human milk more easily than the milk of other animals, probably
because human milk contains an enzyme that aids in this process. Breast milk forms softer curds in the infant's
stomach than cow's milk (the basis for most formulas) and is more quickly assimilated into the body system.
While it contains less protein than does cow's milk, virtually all the protein in breast milk is available to the baby.
By contrast, about half the protein in cow's milk passes through the baby's body as a waste product. Similarly,
iron and zinc are absorbed better by breastfed babies."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987
Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
- Baby's suckling helps shrink mother's uterus after childbirth
"Nursing will help you to regain your figure more quickly, since the process of lactation causes the uterus (which has increased during
pregnancy to about 20 times its normal size) to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size. "
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 708
Broadway, New York, NY 10003
The uterus of the non-breastfeeding mother will never shrink back to its pre-pregnant size. It will always remain slightly enlarged.
Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." Br J Obstet Gynaecol
1994; 101:804-805
- Baby's suckling helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage in mother
Nursing her baby causes the mother's body to release oxytocin, which stimulates contractions which help shrink the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size
while expelling the placenta. These contractions also shut off the maternal blood vessels that formerly fed the baby and discourage excessive bleeding. Women who
choose not to breastfeed must be given synthetic oxytocin to insure against hemorrhaging.
Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." Br J Obstet Gynaecol
1994; 101:804-805
- Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born
Breastfeeding requires an average of 500 extra calories per day.
Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommwen LA. "Maternal weight-loss patterns during prolonged lactation. "Am J Clin Nutr 1993;58:162-166
Breastfeeding mothers generally lose weight faster than bottle feeding moms. "They experience quicker slimming of the abdoment, and decreased risk for
developing breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis."
Statement by American Dietetic Association
Mothers who breastfed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above
their pre-pregnancy weights at 1 month postpartum than mothers who fed formula exclusively."
Kramer, F., "Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat." J. Am Diet Assoc 1993; 93(4):429-33
- Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants
"Milk produced by women who deliver prematurely differs from that produced after a full-term pregnancy. Specifically,
during the first month after parturition, pre-term milk maintains a composition similar to that of colostrum.."
Hamosh, Margit, PhD, Georgetown University Medical Center "Breast-feeding: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mother's
Milk".
- The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it
"...breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and
development of infants; ... it forms a unique biological and emotional basis for the health of both mother and
child; ...the anti-infective properties of breast milk help to protect infants against disease; and ... there
is an important relationship between breastfeeding and child spacing".(Emphasis added)
(See The WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes).
- Breastfeeding protects against Crohn's disease (intestinal disorder)
Crohn's Diease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation extending into
the deeper layers of the intestinal wall. It is difficult to treat, but several studies have shown that breastfeeding
may help babies avoid developing the disease.
Koletzko S, Sherman P, Corey M, et al. "Role of infant feeding practices in development of Crohn;s disease in
childhood." Br Med J. 1989;298:1617-1618
Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease
and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol.
1993;3387-392
- Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes
There are many studies linking development of juvenile diabetes to lack of breastfeeding.
The results of a recent study in Finland suggest that at introduction of dairy products at an early age, and
high milk consumption during childhood increase the level of cow's milk antibodies in the children's systems. This
factor is independently associated with increased risk of insulin dependent diabetes.
Virtanen et al: "Diet, Cow's milk protein antibodies and the risk of IDDM in Finnish children." Childhood
Diabetes in Finland Study Group. Diabetologia, Apr 1994, 37(4):381-7
Mayer, EJ, Hamman RF, Gay EC, et al. "Reduced risk of IDDM among breast-fed children". Diabetes, 1988;37:1625-1632
Virtanen SM, Rasanen L, Aro A, et al. "Infant feeding in Finnish children <7 yr of age with newly diagnosed
IDDM" Diabetes Care, 1991;14:415-417
Gerstein HC. "Cow's milk exposure and type 1 diabetes mellitus". Diabetes Care. 1994;17:13-19
Borch-Johnson, K., et al., "Relation between breastfeeding and incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus".
Lancet 2:1083-86 (1984)
- Breastfeeding baby helps decrease insulin requirements in diabetic mothers
Reduction in insulin dose postpartum was significantly greater in those who were breastfeeding
than those who were bottle feeding.
Davies, H.A., "Insulin Requirements of Diabetic Women who Breast Feed." British Medical Journal, 1989
- Breastfeeding may help stabilize progress of maternal endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease in which the endometrial tissue in a woman's body begins
to form in places other than her uterus, such as on her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the outer surface of the
uterus. This tissue continues to function like uterine tissue would in the uterus, and sheds once a month during
the woman's menstrual cycle. Since there is no vaginal outlet for this blood and tissue, painful complications,
including sterility, may result. There is much clinical research showing that pregnancy temporarily stops the
progress of this disease. Many women say that the disease also seems to be alleviated by breastfeeding. It certainly
makes sense that the delay in the return of a woman's menstrual cycle would be desirable in preventing the endometriosis
from starting up again. Some women even claim a permanent cure. After nursing her children for a total of 27 months,
one woman stated, "Even today, my periods are still regular, my ovulation normal and predictable, and I have
forgotten that pain, like a fist in the stomach that used to keep me awake at night so often".
Annie Havard, "Breastfeeding - a cure for endometriosis", Allaiter ajourd'hui, Quarterly Bulletin of LLL France,
No. 25, Oct. - Dec. 1995
- Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer
Based on the research, for every 1.6 women who do not breastfeed, only one woman who does will develop ovarian cancer.
Gwinn ML, "Pregnancy, breastfeeding and oral contraceptives and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer." J. Clin.
Epidemiol. 1990; 43:559-568
Rosenblatt KA, Thomas DB, "Lactation and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer". Int J Epidemiol. 1993;22:192-197
Schneider, AP "Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer". New England Journal of Medicine, 1987.
- Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer
A World Health Organization study has shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the less likely she is to get endometrial cancer.
Rosenblatt, KA et al "Prolonged lactation and endometrial cancer" Int. J. Epidemiol. 1995; 24:499-503
Petterson B, et al. "Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma". Acta Obstst
Gyneocol Scand 1986;65:247-55
- Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
"Breastfed babies have fewer allergies than artificially fed babies, This is especially
important if your family has a history of allergies. Many babies are allergic to cow's milk formulas. some babies
are even allergic to soy formulas. Breastfeeding protects against other allergies, such as atopic eczema, food allergies
, and respiratory allergies."
Wiggins, PK , Dettwyler, KA" Breastfeeding: A Mother's Gift", July 1, 1998 ed., Chapter 1, L.A. Publishing Co.
Merrett, TG, et al., "Infant Feeding and Allergy: Twelve Month Prospective Study of 500 Babies Born in allergic
Families." American Allergy, 1988; 13-20
Lucas A, Brooke OG, Morley R, et al. "Early diet of preterm infants and development of allergic atopic
disease: randomized prospective study". Br Med J.
1990:300:837-840
Halken S, Host A, Hansen LG, et al. "Effect of an allergy prevention programme on incidence of atopic symptoms
in infancy". Ann Allergy. 1992;47:545-553
Saarinen UM, Kajossari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until
17 years old." Lancet. 1995;346:1065-1069
- Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
Breastfed babies have lower risk
for developing recurrent wheezing when they are older
(age 6 or more).
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Med., July 1995
- Formula feeding increases baby's risk of otitis media (ear infections)
"Otitis media is up to 3-4
times more prevalent in formula-fed infants".
Aniansson G, Alm B, Andersson B, et al. "A prospective
cohort study on breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish
infants". Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994; 13:183-188
Duncan, B et al "Exclusive breastfeeding for at least
four months protects against Otitis Media", Pediatrics
91(1993): 897-872
Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks JS, et al. "Review of
the epidemiologic evidence for an association between
infant feeding and infant health." Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638
Saarinen UM. "Prolonged Breast Feeding as prophylaxis
for recurrent otitis media." Acta Paediatr Scand.
1982;71:567-571
- Formula feeding may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome (S.I.D.S.)
There are a number of studies
showing a link between lack of breastfeeding and S.I.D.S.
It has been found that for each month of breastfeeding,
the chance of S.I.D.S. is reduced by 50% compared to formula
fed babies.
Fredrickson, DD et al., "Relationship
between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Breastfeeding
Intensity and Duration." Am. Journal of Diseases
in Children, 1993: 147:460
Ford RPK, et al ."Breastfeeding and the Risk of Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome." International Journal of
Diseases in Children, 1993, 22(5):885-890
Taylor BJ, Mitchell EA, et al. "Breastfeeding and
the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Int J. Epidemiol.
1993;22:885-890
Mitchell EA, Taylor BJ, Ford RPK, et al. "Four modifiable
and other major risk factors for cot death: the New Zealand
Study"J Paediatr Child Health. 1992;28:S3-S8
Scragg LK, Mitchell EA, Tonkin SL, et al. "Evaluation
of the cot death prevention programme in South Auckland."
NZ Med J. 1993;106:8-10
- Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections
Numerous studies have shown that
diarrheal infections are much more common in formula-fed
babies. This is true throughout the world, despite a common
misconception that only people living in areas with contaminated
water need be concerned with this issue. Such infections
are more likely to be fatal in developing nations, but
all formula-fed infants are at greater risk than their
breastfed peers.
Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks
JS, et al. "Review of the epidemiologic evidence
for an association between infant feeding and infant health."
Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638
Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA. Differences in
morbidity between breast-fed. "Differences in morbidity
between breast-fed and formula-fed infants." Pediatr.
1995;126:696-702
Howie PW, Forsyth JS, Ogston SA, et al. "Protective
effect of breast feeding against infection." Br Med
J. 1990;300:11-16
Popkin BM, Adair L, Akin JS, et al. "Breast-feeding
and diarrheal morbidity." Pediatrics. 1990;86:874-882
Beaudry M, Dufour R, Marcoux S. "Relation Between
infant feeding and infections during the first six months
of life." J Pediatr. 1995; 126:191-197
- Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
Meningitis is an infection which
causes the inflammation of the membrane covering the brain
and spinal cord. It can be caused by a type of bacteria
called Hemophilus influenzae type b (HiB). Breastfeeding
is protective against infections caused by this bacteria,
and the meningitis which may result.
Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary
invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based
assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors
for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased
risk from day care attendance and school-aged household
members." J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198
- Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections
These include "infections
caused by rotaviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses."
Grover M et al "Effect of human milk prostaglandins
and lactoferrin on respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus"
Acta Paediatr. 1997; 86: 315-316
"Breastfed babies were less
than half as likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia
or bronchiolitis."
Piscane A, et al "Breastfeeding
and acute lower respiratory infections" Acta Paediatr.
1994; 83: 714-718
"Breastfed babies had one-fifth
the number of lower respiratory tract infections compared
to formula-fed infants."
Cunningham, Allan S. MD "Breastfeeding, Bottle-feeding
and Illness - An Annotated Bibliography", 1996.
Frank Al, Taber LH, Glezen WP, et al. "Breast-feeding
and respiratory virus infection." Pediatrics 1982;70:239-245
Wright AI, Holberg DJ, Martinez FD, et al. " Breast
feeding and lower respiratory tract illness in the first
year of life." Br Med J. 1989;299:935-949
Chen Y. "Synergistic effect of passive smoking and
artificial feeding on hospitalization for respiratory
illness in early childhood." Chest. 1989;95:1004-1007
Wright AL, Holberg CH, Taussig LM, et al. "Relationship
of infant feeding to recurrent wheezing at age 6 years."
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:758-763
- Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood cancers
In a study done by researchers
at the University of Minnesota it was found that babies
who were breast fed for at least one month had a 21% less
chance of getting leukemia than formula fed babies. The
risk was 30% for children breast fed for 6 months.
"Breastfeeding May Lower Risk For Leukemia In Children",
c. 1999, Mediconsult.com
Davis MK, Savitz DA, Graubard BI. "Infant feeding
and childhood cancer." Lancet. 1988;2:365-368
Shu X-O, Clemens H, Zheng W, et al. "Infant breastfeeding
and the risk of childhood lymphoma and leukemia".
Int J Epidemiol. 1995;24:27-32
- Breastfeeding decreases chances of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Preliminary data from U. of North
Carolina/Duke University researchers indicates breastfed
children were only 40% as likely to develop JA.
"Mother's Milk: An Ounce of Prevention?" Arthritis
Today May-June 1994
- Breastfeeding decreases child's chances of contracting Hodgkins disease
Hodgkins disease is a type of
lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph system. It can develop
in children, although it is less likely to do so in children
who were breastfed as infants.
"An Exploratory Study of Environmental and Medical
Factors Potentially Related to Childhood Cancer."
Medical & Pediatric Oncology, 1991; 19(2):115-21
- Breastfeeding protects baby against vision defects
In a study in Bangladesh, breastfeeding
was a protective factor for night blindness among preschool-aged
children in both rural and urban areas. Breast milk is
generally the main, if not the only source, of vitamin
A during a child's first 24 months of life (or for the
duration of breastfeeding).
Bloem, M. et al. "The role of universal distribution
of vitamin A capsules in combating vitamin A deficiency
in Bangladesh.: Am J Epidemiol 1995; 142(8): 843-55
Birch E, et al. "Breastfeeding and optimal visual
development." J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1993;30:33-8
- Breastfeeding decreases chances of osteoporosis
According to the studies below,
both breastfeeding mothers and their children will be
less at risk for development of this disease.
The odds that a woman with osteoporosis did not breastfeed
her baby was 4 times higher than for a control woman.
Blaauw, R. et al. "Risk factors for development of
osteoporosis in a South African population." SAMJ
1994; 84:328-32
Dr. Alan Lucas, MRC Childhood
Nutrition Research Center of London, found that 8-year-olds
who were fed formula rather than breast fed as infants,
had less developed bone mineralization than those fed
breast milk.
"Bone mineral density decreases during lactation,
but after weaning showed higher bone mineral density than
those who did not breastfeed."
Kalwart HJ and Specker BL "Bone mineral loss during
lactation and recovery after weaning." Obstet. Gynecol.
1995; 86:26-32
Melton LJ, Bryant SC, Wahner HW, et al. "Influence
of breastfeeding and other reproductive factors on bone
mass later in life." Osteoporos Int. 1993;22:684-691
Cumming RG, Klineberg RJ. "Breastfeeding and other
reproductive factors and the risk of hip fractures in
elderly woman." Int J Epidemiol 1993;22:684-691
- Breast milk is aids in proper intestinal development
"...certain hormones in milk
(such as cortisol) and smaller proteins (including epidermal
growth factor, nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth
factor and somatomedin C) act to close up the leaky mucosal
lining of the newborn, making it relatively impermeable
to unwanted pathogens and other potentially harmful agents.
Indeed, animal studies have demonstrated that postnatal
development of the intestine occurs faster in animals
fed their mother's milk. And animals that also receive
colostrum, containing the highest concentrations of epidermal
growth factor, mature even more rapidly."
Newman, J, MD, FRCPC "How Breast milk Protects Newborns"
http://www.promom.org/bf_info/sci_am.htm
- Cows milk is an intestinal irritant
According to Dr. William Sears,
MD, cow's milk should not be given as a beverage to infants
under one year of age. "Cow's milk can irritate the
lining of your infant's intestines, causing tiny losses
of iron. This can contribute to iron-deficiency anemia."
The Baby Book - Everything You Need to Know About Your
Baby From Birth to Age Two. c. 1993 Little, Brown &
Co.
- Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life
A recent German study concluded
"in industrialized countries, promoting prolonged
breastfeeding may help decrease the prevalence of obesity
in childhood. Since obese children have a high risk of
becoming obese adults, such preventative measures may
eventually result in reduction in the prevalence of cardiovascular
diseases and other disease related to obesity." The
study found that 4.5% of formula fed children are obese,
while only 0.8% of breastfed children have this condition.
von Kries, R et al, "Breastfeeding and obesity: cross
sectional study." BMJ 1999; 319:147-150 (July 17)
- Breastfed babies have less chance of cardiopulmonary distress while feeding
Bottle-fed babies are at increased
risk of cardiopulmonary disturbances, including prolonged
airway closure and obstructed respiratory breaths due
to repeated swallowing.
Koenig HS, Davies Am, Thach BT. "Coordination of
breathing, sucking and swallowing during bottle feedings
in human infants." J Appl Physiol 69: 1629: 1623-1629,
1990.
Infants can experience oxygen
saturation below 90% when bottle feeding. Nine of 50 healthy
term infants in one study experienced bradycardia during
bottle feeding. Six of these episodes were preceded by
apnea, three showed hypopnea (marked reduction in ventilation)
and one had certral apnea (no respiratory efforts).
Matthew O, Clark ML, Ponske MH. Apnea, bradycardia, and
cyanosis during oral feeding in term neonates." J
Pediatr 106:857, 1985
- Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic
inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulceration and
inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum.
A number of studies have shown that breastfed babies are
less likely to develop this disease.
Whorwell PJ, et al., "Bottle-feeding, Early Gastroenteritis,
and inflammatory Bowel Disease." British Med. Jour.
1 (1979):382
Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding
and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease
and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol.
1993;3387-392
- Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. bacteria
Hemophilus influenzae type b is
a bacteria which can grow in the respiratory tract with
no symptoms, but may spread into the throat, ears or blood
and cause grave illness. Breastfed babies are much less
vulnerable to such an overgrowth.
Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary
invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based
assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
Takala AK, Eskola J, Palmgren J, et al. "Risk factors
of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease among
children in Finland. J Pediatr. 1980;115:695-701
Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors
for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased
risk from day care attendance and school-aged household
members." J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198
- Breastfed babies require shorter pre and post-surgical fasting
Breastfeeding may continue until
three hours before arrival time at the hospital in healthy
children having elective surgery.
Schreiner, M.S. "Preoperative and Postoperative fasting
in children." Ped Clinics N Amer 41 (1); 111-20 (1994)
- Breastfeeding results in less sick days for parents
Since breastfed babies are statistically
healthier than their formula fed peers, the parents of
breastfed babies spend less time out of work taking care
of sick children.
- Breastfeeding enhances vaccine effectiveness
Breastfed infants showed better
serum and secretory responses to oral and parenteral vaccines
than those formula-fed.
Han-Zoric, M., "Antibody responses to parenteral
and oral vaccines are impaired by conventional and low
protein formulas as compared to breastfeeding." Acta
Paediatr Scand 1990; 79:1137-42
- Breastfed babies have less chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis
This disease occurs most commonly
in premature or sick newborns. In NEC the lining of the
intestinal wall dies and sloughs off. Premature infants
fed their own mother's milk or banked human milk are one
sixth to one tenth as likely to develop NEC. An Australian
study has estimated that 83% of NEC cases may be attributed
to lack of breastfeeding.
Drane, D. "Breastfeeding and formula feeding: a preliminary
economic analysis" Breastfeed Rev 1997; 5:7-15
Lucas A, Cole TJ. "Breast milk and neonatal necrotizing
enterocolitis." Lancet. 1990; 336:519-1523
Convert RF, Barman N, Comanico RS, et al. "Prior
enteral nutrition with human milk protects against intestinal
perforation in infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis."
Pediatr Res. 1995; 37:305A. Abstract
- Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive
This is true only if you are exclusively
breastfeeding, and have not yet gotten your period back
following childbirth. Night nursing encourages longer
amenorrhoea (periodlessness). If you really don't want
to get pregnant again, use some back up birth control
even if you haven't gotten your period again. Unless you
are carefully following a natural family planning program,
you will have no way of knowing when your first ovulation
will occur, and by the time you figure it out you may
be expecting! Still, generally speaking, breastfeeding
contributes to optimum child spacing.
Kennedy KI, Visness CM. "Contraceptive efficacy of
lactational amenorrhoea." Lancet. 1992; 339:227-230
Gray RH, Campbell OM, Apelo R, et al. "Risk of ovulation
during lactation." Lancet. 1990; 335:25-29
Labbock MH, Colie C. "Puerperium and breast-feeding."
Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 4:818-825
- Breastfeeding is easier than using formula
After the initial start up period,
breastfeeding is very easy. All you have to do is raise
your shirt and let the little one latch on. No shopping
for formula, bottles, and other supplies. No mixing, heating,
refrigerating and cleaning up of formula. If you sleep
with your baby, or sleep the baby next to your bed, you
can forget about all the disturbing night time rituals
associated with formula use. All you have to do is roll
over, let the baby latch on, and go back to sleep!
- Breast milk is free
Any way you look at it, you'll
spend a lot more money if you choose to formula feed.
The added calories a nursing mother must take in are a
negligible expense, and nursing clothes are optional.
If you need to pump, excellent pumps are available for
between $50 and $225. A good pump can be used for more
than one child, so they are really an investment. Do be
sure to buy a pump manufactured by a company specializing
in their manufacture. Beware of pumps made by formula
companies. Many woman report these pumps to be inefficient
at best, and painful at worst.
- Formula is expensive
The cost of feeding a baby on
formula for one year was estimated to be around $1000
in 1990. It has certainly gotten more expensive since.
If you factor in the added medical cost you are statistically
likely to incur, that brings the cost up to around $2,300
per year. If your baby happens to require a hypo-allergenic
formula, you will have to considerably more.
Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special
supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109,
1990
- Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of dollars
The U.S. government spends over
$500 million a year to provide formula for its WIC supplemental
food program.
Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special
supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109,
1990
- Breast milk is always the right temperature
Severe burns to babies' mouths
have occurred due to improper heating of artificial milks.
Even when it's done correctly, it's never fun to try to
warm a bottle for a fussing baby.
- Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein
Formula companies are constantly
adjusting these proportions looking for the best composition.
The reality is that a mother's milk composition changes
from feeding to feeding depending on the needs of her
child. No formula can do that!
- Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby
Mother's milk contains chemicals
that seem to work like "knock-out drops" for
tired babies. Even if baby doesn't fall asleep, he/she
will certainly calm down and become more agreeable. If
you choose to breastfeed into toddlerhood, you may find
that the "terrible twos" never materialize.
- Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom
Nursing mothers often joke about
falling asleep on the job. The sleep inducing qualities
of nursing a baby are remarkable. In fact, new mothers
have to be careful to hold a nursing baby in such a way
that they will not drop the child when they inevitably
nod off. Nursing in bed is a great solution. Even pumping
at work can be a great way to calm down and get refocused
during a stressful day. All this relaxation is caused
by the hormone oxytocin, which is released each time a
mother breastfeeds. It decreases blood pressure and clams
the mother. Interestingly, one study found that there
were far fewer incidences of domestic violence and sexual
abuse in breastfeeding families.
Acheston, L, "Family violence and breastfeeding"
Arch. Fam. Med. 1995, 4:650-652
- Breast milk tastes better than formula
Human breast milk is remarkably
sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland. Which would
you rather eat?
- Breastfed babies are healthier over-all
Kaiser Permanente, one of the
largest HMOs in the U.S. recently conducted internal research
to determine the value of the company lactation support
program. This research found that breastfed babies had
many health advantages over formula-fed babies, including
better over-all health.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal
research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official
lactation program)
- Breastfed babies are less likely to die before their third birthday
Not only are breastfed babies
less liekly to contract life-threatening diseases, they
are better able to combat any illnesses that may develop.
Van Den Bogaard, C. "Relationship
Between Breast Feeding in Early Childhood and Morbidity
in a general Population."Fan Med, 1991; 23:510-515
- Breastfed babies require fewer doctor visits
Since breastfed babies are statistically
healthier, they see the doctor less often.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits
of sponsoring an official lactation program)
- Breastfeeding mothers spend less time and money on doctor visits
In 1995 Kaiser-Permanente Health
Maintenance Organization in North Carolina found that
formula-fed babies averaged over $1,400 more per year
in additional health care costs than breastfed infants.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits
of sponsoring an official lactation program)
- Fewer waste packaging products
No wrappers, canisters, disposable
bottles etc...
"If every child in America were bottle-fed, almost
86,000 tons of tin would be needed to produce 550 million
cans for one year's worth of formula. If every mother
in Great Britain breastfed, 3000 tons of paper (used for
formula labels) would be saved in a year. But formula
is not the only problem. Bottles and nipples require plastic,
glass, rubber, and silicon; production of these materials
can be resource-intensive and often leads to end-products
that are not-recyclable. All these products use natural
resources, cause pollution in their manufacture and distribution
and create trash in their packaging, promotion, and disposal."
"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels,
Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm
- No bottles to tote
Unless you're pumping and transporting
the milk for later. Even then there are fewer bottles
to deal with.
- Less cow induced global greenhouse gasses
Ridiculous as it may sound, bovine
flatulence is a huge contributor to the greenhouse gas
problem. Aside from producing vast quantities of methane,
cows also contribute their manure and urine to our rivers
and ground water.
- No need to refrigerate
Of course, breast milk stays fresh
because it's made on demand. Even pumped breast milk keeps
for a long time outside of the fridge.
Ameda guidelines for storing
breast milk:
http://www.ameda.com
- Cows milk is designed for baby cows
Human milk contains completely
different proportions of protein, fat, carbohydrates.
Cows milk is designed to help put on weight quickly, grow
amazingly fast, and develop only as much brain power as
a cow needs. The natural hormones in cows milk are geared
toward cows, not humans. The fact that human beings can
even drink the milk of another species in sort of amazing
when you stop to think about it.
- Human milk is designed for baby humans
Baby cows probably wouldn't do
very well on it. It's designed to build brains, and to
foster gradual physical growth.
- Natural pain relief for baby
Breast milk actually contains
chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from
this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close
and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has
been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of
nursing. If you choose to have your child vaccinated,
it is a good idea to nurse immediately after he/she receives
a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing
the vaccine's effectiveness.
- Perfect food for sick baby
When a formula fed baby gets a
gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial
electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them
to digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and
soothing to the intestines, so there is no need for artificial
and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a
respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus.
In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these
ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing
to excess mucous formation.
- More sleep for mom
Especially if she sleeps with
baby, but even if she doesn't. No bottles to prepare and
warm. Less time comforting a crying baby suffering from
gas and allergies.
- More sleep for baby
A baby that gets its night time
needs met quickly is more likely to get right back to
sleep than a baby who has to wait for a bottle while crying
and swallowing air.
- More sleep for dad
Again, even if he helps with baby
burping, diapering, and baby toting, there are no bottles
to deal with. Also, breastfed babies tend to need much
less burping after the first few months.
- Less equipment to maintain and store
Those bottles, measuring devices,
sterilizing equipment and other gadgets take up valuable
shelf space and they all require cleaning.
- Less equipment to buy
If you don't need or want to pump
your milk, you will not need to purchase a single thing:
your body has all the equipment build-in. Even if you
do have to buy a pump and the basic bottle kit, the savings
in cost of formula and additional medical attention make
breastfeeding financially well worth trying.
- Breast milk has never been recalled
Formula has been, sometimes after
causing injury or death. There were 22 "significant"
recalls of formula including 7 potentially life threatening
situations.
Babbit, V, "FDA Recalls Baby Formula, 1998",
Breastfeeding.com, Inc.
- Fresh breast milk is never contaminated with bacteria
In fact, it has antibacterial
properties.
- No need to worry about which brand is better
Each artificial breast milk formula
is different from all its competitors, but none of them
come close to duplicating the real thing. It can be very
stressful for formula feeding mothers to try to determine
which brand is the best of the lot. No matter which formula
is used "it is increasingly apparent that infant
formula can never duplicate human milk. Human milk contains
living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins
and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated
in infant formula."
(Quoted from FDA pediatric-nutrition researchers at Abbott
Laboratories, writing in March, 1994 issue of Endocrine
Regulations.)
- No need to worry about adding contaminated water
Even in the U.S. our water can
contain dangerous elements like arsenic, lead and aluminum.
These contaminants can become concentrated if water is
boiled to sterilize it before being added to formula.
- Breastfeeding helps reduce cruelty to farm animals
Less use of cow's milk equals
fewer cows equals less opportunity for animal abuse.
- Facilitates proper dental and jaw development
"Suckling at the breast is
good for a baby's tooth and jaw development. Babies at
the breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy
to get food than do those drinking from a bottle...As
[the babies jaw] muscles are strenuously exercised in
suckling, their constant pulling encourages the growth
of well-formed jaws and straight, healthy teeth."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S.
Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman
Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
"Among breastfed infants,
the longer the duration of nursing the lower the incidents
of malocclusion."
Labbok, M.H. "Does Breastfeeding Protect against
Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement
to the National Health Interview Survey" American
Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987
- Breastfed babies get fewer cavities
Breast milk contains bacteria
fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause
tooth decay. Furthermore, bottle-fed babies "are
at increased risk for baby bottle caries, a destructive
dental condition which occurs when a baby is put to bed
with a bottle containing formula, milk, juice or other
fluids high in carbohydrates. Extensive dental repair
may be required at a cost of thousands of dollars."
Furthermore, breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells
that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Loesche WJ, "Nutrition and dental decay in infants."
Am J Clin Nutr 41; 423-435, 1985
Lucas, A, Cole T, "Is Breast Feeding a Likely Cause
of Dental Caries in young Children?" Journal of American
Dental Assoc., 1979; 98:21-23
- Less money spent on corrective orthodontia
The longer you breastfeed, the
more likely the babies teeth will come in properly. If
the teeth come in straight, there's no need to fix them.
- Better speech development
Tongue thrust problems often develop
among bottle-fed babies as they try to slow down the flow
of milk coming from the artificial nipple. This can lead
to speech problems, as well as "mouth breathing,
lip biting, gum disease, and a generally unattractive
appearance."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S.
Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman
Publishing Co., Inc. 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Broad, Frances E., "The Effects of Infant Feeding
on Speech Quality." New Zealand Medical Journal,
1976; 76:28-31
- Less chance of baby getting eczema
"We conclude that breastfeeding
is prophylactic against atopic disease (eczema), the effect
extending into early adulthood. Breastfeeding for longer
than 1 month without other milk supplements offers significant
prophylaxis against food allergy at 3 years of age, and
also against respiratory allergy at 17 years of age. Six
months of breastfeeding is required to prevent eczema
during the first 3 years, and possibly also to prevent
substantial atopy in adolescence." The differences
by infant feeding method were so pronounced that they
"suggested an influence of early milk feeding that
may exceed the heredity burden.
Saarinen UM, Kajosaari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis
against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until
17 years of age." Lancet. 1995; 346:1065-69.
Eczema was less common and milder
in babies who were breast fed (22%) and whose Mothers
were on a restricted diet (48%). In infants fed casein
hydrolysate, soymilk, or cows milk, 21%, 63% and 70% respectively,
developed atopic eczema.
Chandra R.K., "Influence of Maternal Diet During
Lactation and the Use of Formula Feed an Development of
Atopic Eczema in the High Risk Infants". Br Med J.
1989
- Breastfed babies have great skin
You don't have to refer to the
many studies showing that breastfed babies have less eczema
and fewer rashes. Check out the skin of a breastfed baby
and see what you think.
- Less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)
Breastfed neonates demonstrate
gastroesophageal reflux episodes of significantly shorter
duration that formula fed neonates.
Heacock, H.J. "Influence of Breast vs Formula Milk
in Physiologic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Healthy Newborn
Infants". Jour. Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992
January; 14(1): 41-6
- Easier to clean spit-up stains
O.K. This is only based on a casual
survey of a lot of breastfeeding mothers. We notice that
the hand-me-down clothes we receive from bottle-fed babies
have nasty brown staining all over the collars and fronts.
Our breastfed babies never seemed to create these sorts
of spit-up stains. In fact, after the first month or so,
they don't spit up much anyway. How many newborn breastfed
babies do you see wearing bibs all the time?
- Breast milk contains no genetically engineered materials
Most consumers are completely
unaware of how much genetically engineered food they are
consuming because the U.S. government does not require
this food to be labeled as such. Genetic ID, a company
in Fairfield, Iowa, tested four soy-based baby formulas
for genetically engineered ingredients. All four, Carnation
Alsoy, Similac Neocare, Isomil and Enfamil Prosobee, tested
positive.
(See "Biotechnology's Bounty", M.Burros, N.Y.
Times 05/21/97
- Breast Milk contains no synthetic growth hormones
Since many cows in the U.S. are
now routinely ingesting synthetic growth hormones to artificially
increase their milk production, it stands to reason that
these hormones are also getting into the U.S. formulas.
- Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis in later life
Although thought to be multifactorial
in origin, and without a clearly defined etiology, lack
of breastfeeding does appear to be associated with an
increased incidence of multiple sclerosis.
Dick, G. "The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis."
Proc Roy Soc Med 1989;69;611-5
- Less chance of inguinal hernia
The inguinal canal brings down
the spermatic cord and certain vessels to the groin area
. A hernia is a defect in the opening where these things
pass through from the abdomen to the groin because the
canal opening gets too big or tears off. The hernia allows
abdominal contents to get down into the groin area.
Breastfeeding is protective against inguinal hernias.
For unknown reasons breastfed babies experience significantly
fewer of them. Human milk contains gonadotropin releasing
hormone, which may affect the maturation of neonatal testicular
function. One recent case control study showed breastfed
infants had a significant dose response reduction in inguinal
hernia.
Pisacane, A. "Breast-feeding and inguinal hernia"
Journal of Pediatrics 1995: Vol 127, No. 1, pp 109-111
- Better cognitive development
In 771 low birth weight infants,
babies whose mothers chose to provide breast milk had
an 8 point advantage in mean Bayley's mental developmental
index over infants of mothers choosing not to do so.
Morley, R., "Mothers Choice to provide Breast Milk
and Developmental Outcome". Arch Dis Child, 1988
- Better social development
The psychomotor and social development
of breastfed babies clearly differs from that of bottle
fed ones and leads at the age of 12 months to significant
advantages of the psychomotor and social capabilities.
Baumgartner, C.,"Psychomotor and Social Development
of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First
year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984
- Decreased risk of baby developing urinary tract infections
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research
to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation
program)
- Suckling optimizes hand-to-eye coordination
Baumgartner, C., "Psychomotor
and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies
During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica
Hungarica 1984; 25(4): 409-17
- Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)
Since many exclusively breastfeeding
mothers do not begin to menstruate for a year or longer
their iron stores are not depleted by monthly bleeding
during this time.
- Less money spent on menstrual supplies for mom
Many breastfeeding moms do not
begin to menstruate again until 14 or more months after
giving birth. " Multiply this by the four million
US births each year to see that over one billion sanitary
products annually could be kept out of our nation's landfills
and sewers. To compound the scenario, because breast milk
is absorbed by babies more efficiently, breastfed babies
excrete less and thus require fewer diaper changes than
formula-fed babies."
"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels,
Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm
- Self confidence booster for mom
There is nothing more amazing
than looking at a plump six month old baby and knowing
that the only nutrition this happy little creature has
received has come from your own body.
- Breast milk may help combat eye infections
Breast milk contains natural antibiotic
qualities, and many mothers swear that a squirt in the
irritated eye of their baby has cleared up the problem
in short order.
- Breast milk may be a good natural antibiotic for wounds
No one is suggesting you throw
away that tube of triple antibiotic cream just yet, but
bacteria cannot survive long in fresh breast milk. Some
mothers swear it helps prevent scrapes and scratches from
getting infected.
- No worry about latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula
"Formula" is really
a formula for synthetic human milk. There is no real formula
that can duplicate human milk because, as the FDA recognized
in a recent statement, "...the exact chemical makeup
of breast milk is still unknown."
"Formula-fed infants depend on products which can
be quite different from each other, but which are continually
being found deficient in essential nutrients... These
nutrients are then added, usually after damage has occurred
in infants or overwhelming market pressure forces the
issue."
M. Walker, R.N., International Board Certified Lactation
Consultant, The Journal of Human Lactation, Sept 1993
- Much nicer diaper changes
The bowel movements of breastfed
babies smell mild and inoffensive. The same can not be
said about those of formula fed babies. Try changing a
few formula fed babies if you are uncertain about wanting
to try breastfeeding!
- Breastfed babies smell fantastic
No scientific study needed here.
There is something almost magical about the scent of your
own breastfed baby, whether you're the mother or father
involved. Try it, you'll like it!
- It's what breasts were designed for!
This information is furnished to you by ProMoM, Inc. as a public service. It is in no way
intended as medical advice, or meant to replace the services of a licensed medical professional.
© 1998-2001 ProMoM, Inc. All rights reserved. (Revised June 14, 2001.)
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