Facts About Breastfeeding

Why is breast-feeding important?

Breast milk is the healthiest food for babies and offers

the most complete nutrition, such as antibodies to help
fight illness. With the exception of a daily vitamin D
supplement, breast milk is the only source of nutrition
needed during the first 6 months of life. After 6 months,
iron-fortified foods are gradually introduced as you
continue to breast-feed. All major professional medical
organizations that focus on children, such as the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommend
breast-feeding for at least the first year of a baby’s life
or longer if desired. Your baby receives more health
benefits the longer you breast-feed. Also, your breast
milk changes to meet your baby’s nutritional needs as
he or she grows.

Breast-feeding helps your body recover from the

stresses of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. It also lowers
your risk for developing breast cancer. The longer you
breast-feed, the more this risk is reduced.

The first few weeks of breast-feeding typically are the most difficult. You are recovering
from childbirth, adjusting to hormonal changes, and operating with little sleep. Many
women are also mentally and emotionally exhausted. Minor problems, such as sore or
cracked nipples, may seem overwhelming. However, most breast-feeding problems are
easily prevented or solved. Overcoming these challenges during these first few weeks
boosts your confidence, which makes you more likely to continue breast-feeding for a
full year. Most women who persevere with breast-feeding have a great sense of
accomplishment and recognize the importance of providing their child with the best
possible nutrition.

What are the benefits of breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding offers many benefits to the baby:

• Breast milk provides the right balance of nutrients to help an infant grow into a strong
and healthy toddler.
• Breastfed infants, and those who are fed expressed breast milk, have fewer deaths
during the first year and experience fewer illnesses than babies fed formula.
• Some of the nutrients in breast milk also help protect an infant against some common
childhood illnesses and infections, such as diarrhea, middle ear infections, and certain
lung infections.
• Some recent NICHD-supported research also suggests that breast milk contains
important fatty acids (building blocks) that help an infant’s brain develop. Two specific
fatty acids, known as DHA and AA, may help increase infants’ cognitive skills. Many
types of infant formulas available in the United States are fortified with DHA and AA,
and all formula available for preterm infants is fortified with these fatty acids.

Breastfeeding also benefits the mother:

• In response to the baby’s sucking, the mother’s body releases a hormone that makes
her uterus contract and get smaller.
• Many mothers also get emotional benefits from breastfeeding because of the closeness
of this interaction with the baby and from the satisfaction of helping to nourish their
babies.
• Some research suggest that mothers who breastfeed their babies have fewer episodes
of post-delivery depression.
• There is evolving evidence to indicate that certain types of cancer (such as breast,
uterus, and ovarian cancer) occur less often in mothers who have breastfed their babies.
• Many societies and cultures also encourage mothers to breastfeed, which can offer
support to a new mother.

Breast milk

The exact properties of breast milk are not entirely understood, but the nutrient content of
mature milk is relatively stable. Its ingredients come from the mother’s food supply and
the nutrients in her bloodstream at the time of feeding. If that is not enough, nutrients
come from the mother’s bodily stores. Some studies estimate that a woman who
breastfeeds her infant exclusively uses 500–600 more calories a day just producing milk
for her offspring. The exact composition of breast milk varies from day to day, and even
hour to hour, depending on both the manner in which the baby nurses and the mother’s
food consumption and environment, so the ratio of water to fat fluctuates.

Foremilk, the milk released at the beginning of a feed, is watery, low in fat and high in
carbohydrates; hind milk, which is increasingly released as the feed progresses, is
creamier. There is no sharp distinction between foremilk and hind milk, the change is
very gradual. Research from Peter Hartmann’s group tells us that fat content of the milk
is primarily determined by the emptiness of the breast—the less milk in the breast, the
higher the fat content. The breast can never be truly "emptied" since milk production is
continuous.

Bonding

The hormones released during breastfeeding strengthen the mother’s nurturing feelings
towards the child. Strengthening the maternal bond is very important as up to 80% of
mothers suffer from some form of postnatal depression, though most cases are very mild.
The woman’s partner and other caregivers can support her in a variety of ways and this
support is an important factor in successful breastfeeding. Teaching partners how to
manage common difficulties is associated with higher breastfeeding rates.
Breastfeeding can have an impact on the personal relationship between a mother’s partner
and the child. While some partners may feel left out when the mother is feeding the baby,
others see it as an opportunity for strengthening family bonds. Looking after a new baby
and breastfeeding takes time. This can add pressure to the partner and the family, because
the partner has to care for the mother as well as performing tasks she would otherwise do.
However, as partners are often very willing to give this support, this pressure can help to
strengthen family bonds.

If the mother is away, an alternative caregiver may be able to use expressed breast milk
(EBM) to feed the baby. The various breast pumps available for sale and rent make it
possible for working mothers to breastfeed their babies for as long as they want.
However, the mother must produce and store enough milk to feed the child for the time
she is away and this may not always be practical. Also, the other caregiver must be
comfortable in handling breast milk. These two factors may prompt the mother - perhaps
against her wishes - to switch to artificial feeding, either temporarily or permanently.

Time and place for breastfeeding

Breastfeeding at least once every two to three hours helps to keep up the milk production.
For most women, a target of eight breastfeeding or pumping sessions every 24 hours
keeps their milk production high It is common for newborn babies to feed more often
than this: 10 to 12 breastfeeding sessions every 24 hours is common, and some may even
feed 18 times a day. Feeding a baby on demand (sometimes referred to as "on cue"),
which may mean breastfeeding many times more than the recommended minimum,
feeding when the baby shows early signs of hunger, is the best way to maintain milk
production and ensure the baby’s needs for milk and comfort are being satisfied.
However, it may be important to recognize whether a baby is truly hungry, as
breastfeeding too frequently may mean the child receives a disproportionately high
amount of foremilk, and not enough hind milk, potentially creating problems.

Babies usually show they are hungry by waking up (newborns), mouthing their fists,
moaning or fussing. Crying is a late indicator of hunger. When babies’ cheeks are stroked,
the rooting instinct makes them move their face towards the stroking and open their
mouth.

Breastfeeding can make mothers thirsty, especially at first, when both mother and baby
are inexperienced and when feeding sessions can last for up to an hour or more (there is
no time limit for breastfeeding). Having water readily available helps mothers maintain
proper hydration.

Human Milk for Human Infants

The primary benefit of breast milk is nutritional. Human milk contains just the right
amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids for human digestion, brain
development, and growth.
Cow’s milk contains a different type of protein than breast milk. This is good for calves,
but human infants can have difficulty digesting it. Bottle-fed infants tend to be fatter than
breast-fed infants, but not necessarily healthier.

Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a
mother’s antibodies to disease. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are
macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed babies are protected, in
varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis,
staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore,
mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making
their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well.

A breast-fed baby’s digestive tract contains large amounts of Lactobacillus bifidus,

beneficial bacteria that prevent the growth of harmful organisms. Human milk straight
from the breast is always sterile, never contaminated by polluted water or dirty bottles,
which can also lead to diarrhea in the infant.
Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. No babies are allergic
to their mother’s milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. If
she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself.

Sucking at the breast promotes good jaw development as well. Its harder work to get milk
out of a breast than a bottle, and the exercise strengthens the jaws and encourages the
growth of straight, healthy teeth. The baby at the breast also can control the flow of milk
by sucking and stopping. With a bottle, the baby must constantly suck or react to the
pressure of the nipple placed in the mouth.

Nursing may have psychological benefits for the infant as well, creating an early
attachment between mother and child. At birth, infants see only 12 to 15 inches, the
distance between a nursing baby and its mother’s face. Studies have found that infants as
young as 1 week prefer the smell of their own mother’s milk. When nursing pads soaked
with breast milk are placed in their cribs, they turn their faces toward the one that smells
familiar.

Many psychologists believe the nursing baby enjoys a sense of security from the warmth
and presence of the mother, especially when there’s skin-to-skin contact during feeding.
Parents of bottle-fed babies may be tempted to prop bottles in the baby’s mouth, with no
human contact during feeding. But a nursing mother must cuddle her infant closely many
times during the day. Nursing becomes more than a way to feed a baby; it’s a source of
warmth and comfort.