Breastfeeding

From ChildWiki.com

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Breastfeeding refers to feeding a child from the milk produced in its mother's breasts. Many health organizations stress the importance of breastfeeding babies. Experts disagree about the length of time mothers should exclusively breastfeed. The World Health Organization (WHO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by up to two years of supplemental breastfeeding.

Studies have shown that there are health advantages of breastfeeding as opposed to using formula for both the baby and the mother. Breast milk has been designed to be the healthiest possible food for infants. Formula has been shown to be associated with fatal cases of dehydration due to diarrhea. Breast-milk also contains antibodies that help protect babies from illness, especially when the baby is fed colostrums, which is heavy in antibodies and nutrients.

Babies who are breastfed have a lower rate of ear infections, stomach flu, diarrhea, respiratory infections, dermatitis, asthma, obesity, diabetes (types 1 and 2), leukemia, and SIDS than those who are bottle fed. Some of these benefits last for a child's lifetime such as a lower obesity rate, and a lower asthma rate. For mothers, breastfeeding a baby leads to lower chances of getting type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and postpartum depression.

Most women can breastfeed for at least six months, unless circumstances dictate otherwise. Some mothers may be advised to bottle feed a baby if the mother is on certain prescription medicines or is infected with HIV. Some women stop breastfeeding because it is uncomfortable or inconvenient. Lactation consultants advise that if breastfeeding is uncomfortable it is likely the baby is not latched on completely, and the mother should seek advice to solve the problem. It might be especially difficult for working mothers to breastfeed their babies. Many employers now allow working mothers to take time out of work in order to express breast-milk, and breast pumps often help save time.

[edit] References

• Womenshealth.gov
• Practice Applications from the Surgeon General
• Picciano M (2001). "Nutrient composition of human milk". Pediatr Clin North Am 48 (1): 53–67. doi:10.1016/S0031-3955(05)70285-6. PMID 11236733.
• World Health Organization. (2003). Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization and UNICEF. ISBN 9241562218.
• Gartner LM, et al. (2005). "Breastfeeding and the use of human milk [policy statement"]. Pediatrics 115 (2): 496–506. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2491. PMID 15687461.
• Horton S, Sanghvi T, Phillips M, et al. (1996). "Breastfeeding promotion and priority setting in health". Health Policy Plan 11 (2): 156–68. doi:10.1093/heapol/11.2.156. PMID 10158457.