Free Web Pages!

Breast fed babies are also less likely to have colic, upper respiratory infections, ear infections, constipation, asthma or allergies.

Breastfeeding will also burn up almost 500 calories each day, helping mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner. And it also reduces the mother's risk for developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer later in life.

I think most people understand that there are benefits to breastfeeding. That is likely why 50% to 60% of moms reported wanting to breastfeed for at least 12 months or more in our newborn and infant surverys. However, only 24 to 35% of mothers actually made it past 12 months according to our toddler and nutrition surveys. A review of the benefits of extended breastfeeding will hopefully encourage more mothers to follow the AAP recommendations and breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months, and then, after starting solids, continue to breastfeed 'for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.'

Here are recent studies that show the benefits of breastfeeding:

• Breastfeeding and Asthma in Young Children
  Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine/Vol 155, Nov 2001
  
  This study showed that breastfeeding helps to decrease an infants chance of developing asthma, with the greatest benefit for children that were breastfed for at least nine months.
  
  
• The Economic Impact of Breastfeeding.
  Ball TM - Pediatr Clin North Am - 01-Feb-2001; 48(1): 253-66.
  
  Concludes that 'breastfeeding clearly improves the health of infants and mothers and seems to result in cost savings for parents, insurers, employers, and society, which means that the medical and economic value of breastfeeding is high.'
  
  
• Host defense benefits of breastfeeding for the infant. Effect of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.
  Heinig MJ - Pediatr Clin North Am - 01-Feb-2001; 48(1): 105-23, ix
  
  Presents data that indicates 'that breastfeeding is effective in reducing the risk for illness among infants even in relatively affluent populations and that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 3 months confers greater protection than does less intense breastfeeding for shorter durations.'
  
  
• Infant feeding and blood cholesterol: a study in adolescents and a systematic review.
  Owen CG - Pediatrics - 01-Sep-2002; 110(3): 597-608
  
  Shows that 'breastfeeding is associated with increased mean total cholesterol and LDL levels in infancy but lower levels in adulthood/adult life. These results suggest that breastfeeding may have long-term benefits for cardiovascular health...'
  
  
• Continuing breast feeding into the second year improves child growth
  The Lancet 1999; 354: 2041-2045.
  
  "This cohort study measures and adjusts for a range of potential confounders, and strengthens the evolving evidence that continued breastfeeding benefits child growth, with more pronounced benefits in deprived environments."
  
  
• Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years old.
  Saarinen UM - Lancet - 21-Oct-1995; 346(8982): 1065-9
  
  Conclude that 'breastfeeding is prophylactic against atopic disease--including atopic eczema, food allergy, and respiratory allergy--throughout childhood and adolescence.'
  
  
• Breast-feeding and the onset of atopic dermatitis in childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.
  Gdalevich M - J Am Acad Dermatol - 01-Oct-2001; 45(4): 520-7
  Found that 'exclusive breast-feeding during the first 3 months of life is associated with lower incidence rates of atopic dermatitis {eczema} during childhood in children with a family history of atopy... Breast-feeding should be strongly recommended to mothers of infants with a family history of atopy, as a possible means of preventing atopic eczema.'
  
  
• Relation between infant feeding and infections during the first six months of life.
  Beaudry M - J Pediatr - 01-Feb-1995; 126(2): 191-7
  
  Concluded that 'breast-feeding was protective against respiratory illnesses, including ear infection, and against gastrointestinal illnesses. Breast-feeding also protected against hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses.'
  
  
• Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants.
  Dewey KG - J Pediatr - 01-May-1995; 126(5 Pt 1): 696-702
  
  Provides results which 'indicate that breast-feeding during the first year of life is protective against diarrheal illness and otitis media, even in a relatively affluent, highly educated population.'
  
  
• Effects of breastfeeding on the mother.
  Labbok MH - Pediatr Clin North Am - 01-Feb-2001; 48(1): 143-58
  
  Shows that 'breastfeeding, sometimes referred to as the final stage of labor, reduces the risk for (1) postpartum blood loss by increasing the rate of uterine contraction, (2) premenopausal breast cancer, and (3) ovarian cancer. In addition to reducing the severity of anemia, breastfeeding may cause other changes that may help to protect mothers against bladder and other infections. Also, epidemiologic studies seem to indicate that, despite the apparent bone loss that occurs in women during lactation, women who breastfeed may be at reduced risk for spinal and hip fracture after menopause. In addition to the direct health effects, breastfeeding seems to provide a sense of bonding, a sense of well-being, and an improved sense of self-esteem for many women.'

Breastfeeding Advocacy Resources:

• BreastFeeding.com: information and support for breastfeeding mothers.
• Promoting and Supporting Breast-Feeding: position statement from the American Academy of Family Physicians promoting breastfeeding.
• Breastfeeding Promotion at the AAP: American Academy of Pediatrics resources to promote breastfeeding.
• Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk: American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement that recommends that 'breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.'
• ProMoM: Promotion of Mother's Milk, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public acceptance of breastfeeding.
• International Lactation Consultant Association: promoting "the professional development, advancement, and recognition of lactation consultants worldwide for the benefit of breastfeeding women, infants and children."
• La Leche Leaguge: "an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed."