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Big Business vs. Breastfeeding
A new study in BMJ says more needs to be done to stop big business from exploiting mothers to choose formula over breastfeeding.
Tony Waterston, Monitoring the marketing of infant formula feeds: Manufacturers of breast milk substitutes violate the WHO code again. BMJ, 2003 (Jan 18); 326 (7381): 113-114.
Decrease in Respiratory Ailments Associated with Breastfeeding
Among generally healthy infants in developed nations, more than a tripling in severe respiratory tract illnesses resulting in hospitalizations was noted for infants who were not breastfed compared with those who were exclusively breastfed for 4 months.
Bachrach VR, Schwarz E, Bachrach LR. Breastfeeding and the risk of hospitalization for respiratory disease in infancy: a meta-analysis. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2003 (Mar); 157 (3): 237-243.
Breastfeeding Reduces Pain Response
The results of a new study published in BMJ reports that breastfeeding effectively reduces response to pain during minor invasive procedure in term neonates.
Ricardo Carbajal. Analgesic effect of breastfeeding in term neonates: randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 2003 (Jan 4); 326 (7379): 13.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Prevents Allergies
A large cohort study concludes that exclusive breastfeeding seems to have a preventive effect on the early development of allergic disease— that is, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and suspected allergic rhinitis, up to 2 years of age. This protective effect was also evident for multiple allergic diseases.
I Kull, M Wickman, G Lilja, S L Nordvall and G Pershagen. Breastfeeding and allergic diseases in infants-a prospective birth cohort study. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2002 (Dec); 87 (6): 478-481.
 Breastfeeding, a complex support system for the offspring
Presented at Pediatrics International (2002), this paper addresses the relationship between breastfeeding and infants’ improved immune system function.
Via several mechanisms, it seems that human milk can actively stimulate the immune system of the breast-fed infant. This reduces the risk of infections like otitis media, respiratory tract infections, diarrhea and infection-induced wheezing for several years after the termination of breastfeeding. Furthermore, it seems that breastfeeding decreases the risk of attracting celiac disease and allergic diseases.The latter has been much debated, but a recent critical review of published reports gives good support for long-term protection of allergic diseases, especially in high-risk children.
Pediatrics International (2002) 44, 347–352, Invited Paper: Breastfeeding, a complex support system for the offspring.
Epidurals Negatively Affect Breastfeeding
Epidural anesthesia is commonly administered to laboring women. Some studies have suggested that epidural anesthesia might inhibit breastfeeding. This study explores the association between labor epidural anesthesia and early breastfeeding success. Labor epidural anesthesia had a negative impact on breastfeeding in the first 24 hours of life even though it did not inhibit the percentage of breastfeeding attempts in the first hour. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact nature of this association.
Baumgarder DJ, Muehl P, Fischer M, Pribbenow B. Effect of Labor Epidural Anesthesia on Breastfeeding of Healthy Full-Term Newborns Delivered Vaginally. J Am Board Fam Pract, 2003 (Jan-Feb); 16 (1): 7-13.
Canned vs. Breast
What is the difference between breast milk and formula?
Here’s what’s in mom’s stuff:
“Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Macronutrients, Minerals, Calcium, Chloride, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Vitamin C, Folate, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Catalase, Histaminase, Arysulfatase, Antioxidants, a-Tocopherol, Cysteine, Ascorbic acid, Antiproteases, a-1-antitrypsin, a-1-antichymotrypsin, Prostaglandins, PG-E2, PG-F2, Secretory IgA (sIgA), Full antibody repertoire, Lysozyme, Lactoferrin, Interleukin-6, PAFacetylhydrolase, Memory T cells, EGF, NGF, Insulin, IGF-I, IGF-II, Relaxin, TGF-a, PRL, Corticosterone, Insulin, IGFs, Relaxin, EGF, TGF-a, TGF-b, GnRH, GRH, PTHrP, Peptides, Erythropoietin, Prostaglandins.”
Reference: Breastfeeding: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mother's Milk Author: Margit Hamosh, Ph.D., Georgetown University Medical Center
Here’s what's in a bottle of formula:
{Are you sure you really want to know?}
“Whey protein concentrate, palm olein, soy, coconut, high-oleic safflower oils lactose, maltodextrin, potassium citrate, calcium phosphate, calcium chloride, salt, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, soy lecithin, mono and diglycerides, inositol, choline bitartrate sodium ascorbate, enzymatically hydrolyzed reduced minerals, alpha tocophyeryl acetate, naicinamide, calcum pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, phylloquinone, biotin, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, taurine, L-carnitine.”
Reference: can of formula www.compleatmother.com/canned_vs_breast.htm
 This article appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #05.
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