A cheer for exclusive breastfeeders

[roostermom]

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF NOT EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFEEDING

Using formula instead of breastfeeding has serious short- and
long-term consequences for both baby and mother. In hundreds of
studies comparing breastfeeding to formula-feeding, formula-feeding
has been linked to an increase in many health problems, including the
following:

Babies fed formula are at a much greater risk for:

* Otitis media (ear infections)
* SIDS
* Diarrhea
* Bacterial meningitis
* Reduced IQ
* Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
* RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
* HIB (Hemophilus Influenza type B)
* Gastro-intestinal illnesses
* Inguinal hernia
* Hospitalization
* Death (twice as likely during the first year)

Babies, children and adults who were given formula are more likely to
have:

* Multiple sclerosis
* Crohn's disease
* Ulcerative colitis
* Celiac disease
* Urinary tract infections
* Higher blood pressure
* Breast cancer
* Diabetes, Types 1 and 2
* Allergies
* Asthma
* Childhood leukemias
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Hodgkin's disease (lymphoma)
* Obesity
* High cholesterol
* Attention-deficit hyperactivity
* Auto-immune thyroid disease
* Child abuse and neglect
* Peanut allergy (soy formula)
* Schizophrenia
* Oral malocclusion (requiring braces)
* Dental caries (cavities)
* DNA damage
* Bed wetting

Mothers who don't breastfeed greatly increase their chances of developing:

* Osteoporosis
* Obesity
* Anemia
* Breast cancer
* Ovarian cancer
* Uterine cancer
* Pancreatic cancer
* Brain tumor
* Heart attack
* Type 2 diabetes



In addition, there are other risks associated with formula use.
* Manufacturing errors, including:

* Contaminants (recent example: metal shavings in recalled
formula, 2006)
* Bacteria (example: 25% of U.S. powdered formula contains
enterobacter sakazakii)
* Formulation errors (recent example: Vitamin C accidentally left
out, 2006)

* Contaminants in the water used for mixing formula (examples:
nitrates in rural well water, lead from old plumbing, fluoride or
iodine in excess of what is recommended for infants)
* Errors in preparation, resulting in formula that is too concentrated
or too watered down, which can lead to illness including kidney
damage, NEC, water intoxication, hyponatremia, dehydration, seizures,
or irregular heartbeat.

Don't be fooled by formula advertising that tries to convince mothers
that formula is almost as good as mother's milk or that it has
"special" ingredients that are good for babies. Breastmilk is alive,
is designed by nature for human babies and has many elements that
cannot be copied in a factory or a laboratory.

Many people are shocked to find out just how much difference
breastfeeding makes to life-long health. An April 2007 report* found
the following:

* Babies age 28 days to 1 year who are not breastfed have a 25%
higher mortality (death) rate.
* Babies who have never been breastfed have twice the risk of ear
infections of babies breastfed at least three months.
* The risk of gastrointestinal illnesses is 178% higher for
not-breastfed babies.
* The risk of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract
infections is more than 257% higher for babies not breastfed.
* Not-breastfed babies are 37 - 66% more likely to develop asthma.
* Babies' risk of obesity is reduced 4% for each month they are
breastfed.
* Babies who are weaned before three months of age are 23.5 - 37%
more likely to develop Type 1 diabetes.
* Babies who are never breastfed are 64% more likely to develop
Type 2 diabetes later in life.
* Babies who are never breastfed have a 56.3% increased risk of
dying from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
* Babies who are weaned before six months of age have 23.5%
increased risk of developing ALL, a childhood leukemia, compared to
babies breastfed longer.
* Babies who are weaned before six months of age have 17.6%
increased risk of developing AML, another childhood leukemia, compared
to babies breastfed longer.
* Mothers who do not breastfeed have a 38.8% increased risk of
developing breast cancer compared to mothers who have breastfed for at
least one year.
* Mothers who never breastfeed have a 26.6% increased risk of
ovarian cancer over mothers who choose to breastfeed.
* Mothers who breastfeed decrease their risk of developing Type 2
diabetes by 4.2 - 13.6% for every year they breastfeed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Diatetic
Association (ADA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) all recommend mothers breastfeed
their babies. Current recommendations are to exclusively breastfeed
for about six months and thereafter to continue breastfeeding while
introducing solid foods and to continue breastfeeding for at least one
(AAP) to two (WHO) years.

* by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ),
commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
entitled "Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in
Developed Countries"

[dragondance]

While I'm glad formula existed for dd1 when I had to go on PPD meds at 2 weeks, my bfed dd2 (7 mo and counting) has had basically NO medical problems once she left the NICU while dd1 was sick all. the. time. and hospitalized once for illness. (And in the ER the first time she had formula, because she severe problems with dairy.) Dd2 with the "weakened immune system" from her NICU issue hasn't (so far) had more than a sniffle. (And talk about CHEAPER....) Yay, breastmilk!

[Riverdavidsmama]

i LOVE this post. I exclusively bf my son until 9 mos when we very slowly started solids. He's 18 mos now and still nursing lots (for comfort, nighttime, naps and snacks!) - he's the healthiest, most contented kid. I attribute a lot of that to the physical and emotional benefits of nursing!
Go nursing mamas - and extended nursing mamas too!! The benefits never end.

[topazdodge]

I told my Mom that I am going to BF Annalisse until she is in college because it makes losing weight so much easier to do. I have lost 60 lbs since she was born, but have 50 more to go, so we are definitely not weaning anytime soon! We love the booba!

[EricaLynn]

Whoo I love how to the point this is!

[Cadensmommy]

I love this post!!! thanks for sharing

Clarissa

[WhatWasIThinking]

WOW!!!

[burnsis]

[abbi_n_nadia]

Woohoo! I love reading stuff like that! Makes me feel so good!! Nadia is 17 months and still nursing and she was exclusively breastfed until 6 months!

She is a very challenging child though and it makes me wonder how much worse it would be if we hadn't breastfed....
ETA: She dosn't have any health problems...she just loves to throw tantrums...

[joy7s]

thanks for sharing this!!!

i do however want to mention that ebf didn't save my mother from osteoperosis.. she's only 55 and has full blown osteoperosis. I am 100% for EBF and both of my girls were 5 and 7 months before they saw anything else.. however some of the things in this article are a little on the harsh side.. Like there's a higher chance of a child getting Leukemia if they don't ebf but I would never say that to a mama of a child who has it!!