Medical Evidences That
Breast-Feeding Is Best

I will not normally use medical evidences and such in my writing, but I thought to set the right stage for Breast-feeding, I need to back up my words. This is not just MoM talking, now!

ILLNESS Protection

1. Protects Against- Infection

   • Diarrhea
     Children less than 12 months of age had a lower incidence of acute diarrheal disease during the months they were being breast-fed than children that were fed with formula during the same period.

   • Haemophilus Influenza
     In a population based case control study of risk factors for primary invasion of haemophilus influenza, type B disease, breast feeding was protective of infants less than 6 months of age.

     A 4-16 fold higher risk exists for H influenza bacteremia and meningitis for formula-fed babies.

   • Enhances Vaccine Response
     The antibody levels of immunized infants were significantly higher in the breast fed than the formula fed babies. These findings are strong evidence that breast feeding enhances the active humoral immune response in the first year of life.

     In a study by M. Van-Coric, the breast fed group had significantly higher antibody levels than two formula fed groups together. The breast fed babies showed better serum and secretory responses to conventional and low-protein vaccines than the formula fed babies.

     Human milk can transfer specific or nonspecific immunities to the external mucosal surface of the intestine and possibly to the respiratory tract of the newborn. The acquisition of such passive immunity is particularly important in the early neonatal period when the immune system is immature.

   • Herpes Simplex
     Mothers milk could play a role in the protection of newborns from Herpes Simplex virus II contamination.

   • Respiratory Syncytical Virus (RSV)
     Breast feeding is associated with a lower incidence of RSV infection during the first year of life.

   • Respiratory Infections
     Doctors have found that, where acute chronic bronchitis is present, approximately twice as many bottle fed babies had this problem, as those who were breast fed.

     Aniansson, G et al. A prospective cohort study on Breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish Infants. Pediatr Infect Dis. J. 1994; 13; 183-88

     Acute otitis media frequency was significantly higher in the non-breastfed children in each age group (2,6, and 10 months of age); the frequency of upper respiratory infections was also increased in those children, but reduced in the breast-fed group.

   • Immunologic Development
     Enhanced fecal SigA in breast fed infants is not cause solely by the presence of IgA in breast milk; it represents a stimulatory effect of breast milk on the gastrointestinal humeral immunologic development. Koutras,A.K.,"Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A in Breast Milk vs. Formula Feeding in Early Infancy". J Ped Gastro Nutr, 1989.

   • Wheezing
     Breast feeding seems to protect against wheezing, respiratory tract illnesses in the first 4 months of life, particularly when other risk factors are present.

   • SIDS
     A recent study indicated that Breast-feeding was protective against SIDS, mediated through the prevention of gastrointestinal and /or respiratory disease.

     Not Breast-feeding at discharge from an obstetric hospital at any stage of the infants life was associated with an increased risk of SIDS.

   • General Morbidity
     There is evidence that morbidity is increased when Breast-feeding has not been part of the babies diet. This was most prominent in the first year of life, but it was also present in the first three years.

     Formula-fed children have a higher incidence of certain cancers

     Davies, M. et al. Infant feeding and childhood lymphomas [cancer). Lancet 2:365-368, 1988.

     There was as much as an 8 fold increase in risk of developing lymphomas among children artificially fed or breast-fed less than six months.

     Schwartzbaum, J. et al. An exploratory study of environmental and medical factors potentially related to childhood cancer. Med & Pediat Oncology 199 1; 19(2): 115-2 1.

   • Infant Survival
     There is association between breast feeding up to 6 months of age and survival of infants throughout the first year of life. The younger the infant and the longer the breast feeding, the greater the estimated benefits in terms of death averted.

   • Gastroesophageal Reflex
     Breast-fed infants demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux episodes of significantly shorter duration than formula fed infants.

   • Multiple Sclerosis
     Although thought to be multifactorial in origin, and without a clearly defined etiology, lack of Breast-feeding does appear to be associated with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis. Dick, G. "The Etiology of Multiple --Sclerosis." Proc Roy Soc Med 1976;69:611-5

   • Inguinal Hernia
     Human milk contains gonadotropin releasing hormone, which may affect the maturation of neonatal testicular function. This case control study showed breast-fed 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 109-1 11

      

2. Protection From Allergies

   • Allergic Families
     Breastfeeding, even for short periods, has clearly been associated with lower incidence of wheezing, prolonged colds, diarrhea, and vomiting.

   • Eczema
     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 hydrolysate, soymilk or cows milk, 21%, 63%, and 70% respectively, developed atopic eczema.

    

3. Enhances Development and Intelligence

• Higher IQ
  In a study I read, children who had consumed Mothers Milk by Tube in early weeks of life had a significantly higher IQ at 7.5 to 8 yr.. than those who received no maternal milk, even after adjustment for differences between groups and Mothers' educational and social class.

• Cognitive Development
  Supplementary regression analysis examining the strength of relationship between duration of breast feeding and cognitive development show small but significant relationship between duration of breast feeding and scores on the mental development index of the Bayley Scales at I and 2 years. Morrow-Tlucak, M. "Breast Feeding and Cognitive Development During the First 2 years of Life. "Soc Sci Med, 1988

  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 mother choosing not to do so. MorleyR., "Mothers Choice to provide Breast Milk and Developmental Outcome". Arch Dis Child, 1988

• Social Development
  The psychomotor and social development of breast-fed 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.

   

4. Long Term Benefits

   • Toddler Health
     In another study, mothers of 67 infants were questioned about the types and duration of illness episodes requiring medical care between 16 and 30 months of age. Breast-feeding was noted to decrease the number of infant illnesses and indirectly improve toddler health.

   Benefits to the Mother

   1. Delays Fertility
      Women who nurse frequently and introduce supplements later, don't resume menses as soon, generally. The duration of exclusive nursing and night nursing after supplementation are also a major influence.

       

   2. Breast Cancer
      Women who were formula-fed as infants have higher rates of breast cancer.

      Among both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, risk of breast cancer decrease with increasing duration of ,lifetime lactation experience although the effect was consistently stronger for premenopausal women.

      Compared with women who never breast fed, women who had breast fed for 25 months or more had a lower relative risk.

      If Women who do not breast-feed or who breast-fed for less than 3 months were to do so for 4 to 12 months, breast cancer among premenopausal women could be reduce by 11%; if all women with children lactated for 24 months or longer, the incidence might be reduced by nearly 25%. NewcombP. et#l. "Lactation and reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer." N Engl J Med 1994; 330(2):81-87.

      Women who were breast-fed as infants, even if only for a short time, showed an approximate 25% lower risk of developing premenopausal or postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women who were bottle-fed as an infant. Freudenheim., J. "Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer." Epidemiology 1994 5:324-331

       

   3. Uterine Cancer
      A protective effect against uterine cancer was found for women who breast-feed. Brock, K.E., Sexual, Reproductive, and Contraceptive Risk Factors for Carcinoma- in-Site of the Uterine Cervix in Sidney. "Medical Journal of Australia, 1989.

       

   4. Ovarian Cancer
      Breast-feeding should be added to the list of factors that decrease Ovulatory age and thereby decrease the risk of Ovarian cancer. Schneider, A.P. "Risk Factor for Ovarian Cancer. "New England Journal of Medicine, 1987

       

   5. Endometrial Cancer
      Lactation provides a hypoestrogenic effect with less stimulation of the endometrial lining. This event may offer a protective effect from endometrial cancer. Petterson B, et a] . "Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma". Acta Obstet Gyneocol Smd 1986;65:247-55

       

   6. Emotional Health
      At one month postpartum, women who breast fed their infants had scores indicating less anxiety and more mutuality than the women bottle feeding their infants. Virden, S.F., "The Relationship Between Infant Feeding Method and Maternal Role Adjustment." Journal of Nurse Midwives, 1988.

       

   7. Decrease Insulin Requirements
      Breast-feeding decreased insulin requirements in diabetic women. Reduction in insulin dose postpartum was significantly greater in those who were Breast-feeding than those who were bottle feeding. Davies, H.A., "Insulin Requirements of Diabetic Women who Breast Feed." British Medical Journal, 1989.

       

   8. Decreased Osteoporosis
      The odds ratio that a woman with osteoporosis did not breast-feed 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." SAW 1994; 84:328-32.

       

   9. Promotes Postpartum Weight Loss
      Mothers who breast-fed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their prepregnancy weights at 1 month postpartum than mothers who fed formula exclusively. Kramer, F., "Breast-feeding reduces maternal lower body fat." J Am Diet Assoc 1993;93(4):429-33

   Societal Benefits

   1. Optimum Child Spacing
      Though less of a factor in the Western world, sufficient birth spacing helps with the survival of the older sibling and the new infant. Prolonged lactation helps to promote the spacing of children. Thapa, S., "Breast-feeding, birth spacing and their effects on child survival." Nature 1988;335:679-82

       

   2. Financial Savings to Government and Families

      • Food Expense
        The cost to supply formula to one child is between $800 and $1,200 per year depending on the brand and area of the country.

      • Medical Expenses
        Medical expenses are significantly lower, since general health is improved.

   More Ecological

   There is obviously less use of natural resources (glass, plastic, metal, paper) and also less waste for landfills.

   Less Child Abuse

   A retrospective review of 800 pregnancies at one family practice revealed an association between lack of Breast-feeding and physical and sexual abuse of the mother and/or her children.