advantages of breast feeding
Last reviewed 11/2020
Breastfeeding results in improved maternal and infant outcome in developed as well as in developing countries
Benefits of breast feeding in children
- human breast milk provides protection against infection and contains secretory IgA, WBC, whey proteins (lysozyme and lactoferrin) (1)
- the protein content of human breast milk is less likely to induce allergic reactions and the infant may be less at risk from sudden unexplained death
- in general breastfeeding results in an reduced risk of:
- gastrointestinal tract infection
- a 64% reduction in the incidence of nonspecific gastrointestinal tract infections is seen associated with any breastfeeding
- this effect lasts for 2 months after cessation of breastfeeding
- respiratory tract infections
- in exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months or more
- 72% reduction of risk for hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections in the first year
- 74% reduction in severity of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis when compared to infants who never or only partially breastfed
- exclusively breastfed for >6 months – a fourfold reduction in the risk of pneumonia when compared to infants who were exclusively breastfed for 4 to 6 months
- otitis media (OM)
- any breastfeeding (compared with exclusive infant formula feeding) will decrease OM by 23%
- exclusive breastfeeding for > 3 months will reduce the risk by 50%
- exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months results in an 63% reduction in serious colds and ear and throat infections
- necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- a 77% reduction in NEC in preterm infants fed an exclusive uman milk diet compared with those fed human milk supplemented with cow milk-based infant formula products
- sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- allergic diseases
- exclusive breastfeeding for 3 to 4 months – reduced incidence of clinical asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eczema by 27% in a low-risk population and up to 42% in infants with positive family history
- celiac disease
- reduction of 52% in the risk of developing celiac disease in infants who were breastfed at the time of gluten exposure
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- associated with a 31% reduction in the risk of childhood IBD
- obesity
- 15% to 30% reduction in adolescent and adult obesity rates if any breastfeeding occurred in infancy compared with no breastfeeding.
- diabetes
- exclusive breastfeeding for at least 3 months – 30% reduction in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus and a 40% reduction in type 2 diabetes mellitus
- childhood leukaemias and lymphomas
- A reduction of 20% in the risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia and 15% in the risk of acute myeloid leukemia in infants breastfed for 6 months or longer
- positive effects of breastfeeding on long term neurodevelopment has been observed in preterm infants
- convenience especially with hygiene, which accounts for important improvements in the amount of diarrhoeal illness over bottle fed infants (2)
- breast milk is easily digestible and always at the correct temperature
- possible errors in the formulation or preparation of the artificial milk are eliminated
Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother include:
- the process of breast feeding helps contract the uterus and accelerate involution thereby decreasing the risk of post partum haemorrhage
- pre-menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer are less common in women who have borne children and breast fed them
- breast feeding is a process that gives satisfaction to the mother and child
- breast feeding has a contraceptive effect which helps in child spacing. This is due to high prolactin levels
- accelerated weight loss and return to pre pregnancy body weight
- economic benefits (2)
For these reasons, breast feeding is always encouraged unless there are strong contraindications.
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