This version is aimed at parents and those with a general interest. For those involved in the field of lactation. such as counsellors and midwives (or if you just generally prefer a more hardcore scientific explanation) please see the long version.

Exclusive Breastfeeding and Why…

by Charlotte Young, iwantmymum.com

Many of the health reasons cited for breastfeeding require exclusive breastfeeding, which means solely breastmilk. No water, solids or formula. Current guidelines by the UK Government, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF are to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months – why?

A newborn’s gastrointestinal tract (the tube that extends from the mouth to the anus) is sterile. If born normally, a baby is exposed to his mother’s bacteria first and he has received protection from this before birth from the placenta. As baby breastfeeds, he receives additional antibodies from colostrum and breastmilk.

If babies are born by caesarean section however, they are likely to be initially exposed to hospital air and the staff. As mum may not carry antibodies to germs found in this environment, baby is more vulnerable to infection. Other babies at greater risk are preterm infants, and full term infants with any condition that requires separation from their mother or the giving of a breastmilk substitute.

The immune system of a baby is very different from that of an older child or adult. Before birth, baby only receives some immunity to specific viral infections. His own immature immune system takes several years to produce adult levels of some antibodies, and up to six years for others.

What makes babies even more vulnerable still is that until around six months of age, they have what is often referred to as an “open gut”. This means large molecules can pass directly into their bloodstream. For these reasons, babies demonstrate a marked susceptibility to infections, and minor infections have the potential to become generalised very easily.

Human infants are meant to drink human milk; there are very good reasons for this. Firstly it is rich in the antibodies baby lacks, providing the infant with passive immunity until his own system is mature enough to take over. Mum also creates specific antibodies whenever she and her baby come in contact with harmful germs. When her baby breastfeeds, he passes any germs he has picked up into mother’s body via saliva on her nipple. This signals her immune system to provide or produce the antibodies locally within her breast, which are passed back at subsequent feedings.

If breastmilk is all that has ever entered baby’s gut, it is often referred to as a “virgin gut”. This is because it is a unique environment only found in an exclusively breastfed baby. Different things within breastmilk create amazing conditions, where good bacteria thrive; this aids digestion and interferes with the growth of harmful bacteria. What’s more, the antibodies mum passes can survive in this environment. They then coat the surface of the gastrointestinal tract, acting as a seal for the “open gut” and prevent germs being absorbed into baby’s bloodstream.

These antibodies “ignore” good bacteria, but cling to and destroy harmful germs. Other antibodies enter the bloodstream and move throughout the body, searching for any foreign substances that may cause harm. This serves as a first line of defence for the immature immune system.

Although the “open gut” benefits the breastfed baby by allowing antibodies to slip easily into the bloodstream, in the artificially fed infant it only serves to allow less desirable germs, or potentially harmful food proteins to enter directly into baby’s body.

Only small amounts of formula or solid foods cause a shift that destroys this “virgin gut” environment; removing the coating and killing good bacteria. Just one formula supplement per day will result in an almost immediate shift in which good bacteria are no longer dominant. Even if breastmilk was given exclusively again thereafter, it would take two to four weeks to return again to a state favouring good bacteria. (Brown & Bosworth, 1922; Gerstley, Howell, Nagel, 1932). If breastmilk subsitutes are used in the first few days, the gut flora may never reach normal levels.

The introduction of solid food also causes a major change in the gut flora, with a rapid rise in the number of bacteria. These can cause various infections which can cause for example Salmonella and E-Coli. Numbers also increase of other extremely antibiotic-resistant germs responsible for a variety of infections throughout the body, including ear infections, diarrhoea and even meningitis.

Around the middle of the first year, in readiness for the introduction of solids, the gut closes, preventing large food proteins entering the bloodstream. Introducing foods (alongside breastmilk) that are sources of “good bacteria”, or encourage them to thrive, is important to continued health.

Breastmilk contains many active constituents that actively assist in fighting disease; early breastmilk contains as many white cells as blood! Some aggressively target disease-causing pathogens, whilst others prevent bacteria multiplying and carry them from the body. Some damage bacteria so they are unable to replicate and cause further damage, and others bind to the organisms bacteria could feed on. Some are really clever and send out signals which mobilise other parts of the immune system, whilst others then direct the immune cells to where they are needed. Some cells within breastmilk have the ability to turn into other types of cells, serving as a sort of internal repair system! Others show the infant’s immune system how to respond, helping to prevent an over-reaction, and another very special constituent has been shown to kill forty different types of cancer.

We now understand that breastfeeding is the cornerstone of infant health, with an impact on lifelong outcome. Artificial formula has none of the above attributes; it is a static product that actively destroys protection provided by human milk. As a result rates of sickness, disease and even mortality rates are higher in infants not exclusively breastfed - with a knock-on effect lasting right into adulthood.

Scientists are researching the potential of various breastmilk constituents in the longer term for treating conditions such as:
Spinal injuries
Diabetes
Dementia and stroke recovery.
Parkinson’s disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Multiple sclerosis
Septic shock.
Acne

Today, some patients suffering from immunological diseases - such as HIV, leukaemia or hepatitis - or those receiving therapy that reduces the immune system, such as chemotherapy, are drinking breast milk in the hope that it can help adults, just as it helps sick babies. It has also been taken by cancer patients who claim it slows the progression of the disease and in the USA, some milk banks provide it to adults with a prescription from their doctor.

Supplementation of the Breastfed Baby: “Just One Bottle Won’t Hurt”—or Will It? by Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC

WHO: The Optimal Duration of Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review WHO/NHD/01.08 (2002)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora

http://www.gentlebirth.org

How often should I breastfeed my baby?
Charlotte Young

Many mums receive conflicting information about how often they should feed their baby. Some are told three hourly, some four and some are even told that if they feed more frequently baby will get into the habit of snacking. I’ve seen mums jiggling their crying baby whilst trying to get them to accept a pacifier - with the words “you can’t be hungry; I only fed you an hour ago!”

The trouble is that because the majority of mums formula feed - having a long gap between feeds is now considered the norm. But trying to apply this to a breastfed baby, can for some mums spell the end of breastfeeding. For others it can as above, lead to a frustrated baby and a confused mother!

In fairness, I can understand why formula feeders lean towards schedules. Making a bottle under the DOH guidelines is a faffy and time consuming process - not to mention the cleaning, sterilising etc that follows. Given a breastfeeding mum only has to open her shirt - it’s a pretty different ball game.

Where did schedule feeding come from?
Scheduled feeding was once a popular method of feeding and irrespective of the wants and needs of each baby; feeds were given according to the clock. In the 18th Century, unhygienic conditions resulted in diarrhoea and illness. Dr William Cadogan believed this was due to overfeeding and advised the implementation of rigid feeding schedules. In part his theory was most probably correct, consuming food at that time was likely to be a risky business, but no differentiation was made between other foods and breast milk. His theory was widely read and thus a major contributor to the concept of regulating food intake.

Why scheduling isn’t a good idea for breastfed babies?
Before I tackle the many myths surrounding feeding and why you shouldn’t feed on demand - let’s look at why it’s a good idea.

Each Mum & Her Breast milk Are Unique
Formula is static - it doesn’t change from one feed to the next. A set amount of powder is added to a set amount of water, thus a set amount of calories, vitamins and minerals are delivered.

Breastmilk changes each feed with the calorific content varying widely throughout the day. Furthermore, the amount baby consumes at each feeding also varies feed to feed.

Whereas a bottle is made up of X ounce - all breasts vary and mums can hold different amounts in their initial store with a huge range of up to 300% difference from mum to mum. (Breast size is not a good indicator of production or storage capacity).

Mums have the ability to make the same mean amount over 24 hours but what differs is the amount immediately available at each sitting. It therefore follows that the feed spacings required for a baby to thrive will differ, because this intricate relationship between baby and mum is unique to each nursing pair.

Formula has higher protein levels
In mammals, high levels of protein are found when animals are expected to gain weight quickly - for example a calf doubles his birth weight in around 7 weeks.

Breast milk is lower in protein. This is characteristic of milk when the young gain weight steadily, for example a baby is expected to double his birth weight in around six months. It is also unique in its makeup, with different components making up the protein eg amino acids that are not found in cow’s milk but are important to the development of the brain and the eyes (formula companies have to add this later)

If we observe nature, when protein levels are low the young generally stay close to mum and feed little and often - e.g. monkeys. When it is high the young feed infrequently - e.g. cows. Not only does this highlight why different feeding patterns are to be expected, but also demonstrates breast milk is intended to be consumed frequently and in smaller amounts. Formula companies do modify formula, to bring protein levels more in line with the levels a breastfed baby receives; but a lot still remain higher which has been linked to obesity.

The experiences that shape the brain come from close contact between mother and baby when baby is held and carried. Baby cows need to learn where to find the best grass in the meadow; baby humans need to learn how to work with others so that everyone’s needs get met.

Sears.

Humans are also built to digest human milk - the milk of another species takes longer and puts more strain on the immature digestive system, again contributing to longer feed spacings than normal. Human milk contains enzyme and lipase that breaks the fat down to enable better absorption into the bloodstream.

Make more milk mum!
Whereas powder from a tub is scooped out to make as much, or as little milk as required - this obviously isn’t the case for breasts!

In the very early days of breastfeeding, cue feeding is particularly important due to Prolactin receptors. Put very simply; the more baby feeds, the more receptors are developed. The more receptor sites are developed, the more milk mum is capable of producing.

Prolactin levels fall in the first three months post-partum and therefore the number of receptors is crucial to the success of long term breastfeeding. This can be why women who have claimed to be successfully schedule feeding for the first couple of months then go on to have an unusually high milk supply rate failure at three or four months.

After the early post partum period, the only indication a mum’s body receives about how much milk to make for her baby is how regularly and to what degree that afore mentioned initial store is removed. To up supply baby will begin feeding more frequently - a mum trying to adhere to a strict routine or with preconceptions of how often her baby should feed may try to calm the baby by using a pacifier, rocking or walking. This prevents the vital signals reaching her body telling her to make more milk and her supply doesn’t increase to meet demand.

Baby May Be Thirsty
Write down everything that passes your lips in a day - how often do you go four hours without a drink or something to eat?

Whereas formula fed babies may receive water alongside their “meal”, breast milk provides the perfect balance and no extra supplements are required or recommended. Baby may slot a shorter feed in when he/she requires a drink, especially during hot weather or humidity (a breastfed baby still requires no supplements)

Breastfeeding isn’t just about food
Formula is purely about nutrition - gaining weight and receiving vitamins and minerals.

Breastfeeding is about so much more. When infants are very small - every need bar a nappy change can be met by the breast. If they’re tired it delivers relaxing, sleep inducing hormones, if they’re hungry or thirsty they are nourished. If they need comfort/holding - where is more relaxing than snuggled up hearing mums heartbeat and feeling her warmth?

Consider what a pacifier actually is, a plastic nipple. Not only do baby’s find the act of sucking comforting but the British Medical Journal lists breastfeeding as an analgesic (pain reliever) and so schedule feeding deprives baby of this most natural soother.

This is the biggest kept breastfeeding secret that the “parenting gurus” don’t want mums to know. No more trying to work out what that that cry means or what they are trying to express - the breast will meet whatever need it is. As over the coming weeks and months mums get to know their little ones, they learn to know what baby is telling them, without a manual!

Breastfeeding also supports baby’s immature immune system. Babies who are sick will often increase their nursing frequency, and researchers now believe that they do so not only for the comfort that it brings, but also to increase the baby’s intake of abundant antibodies and immune factors available through mother’s breast (Dettwyler).

On a bigger scale - breastmilk contains components that prevent and kill cancer and stem cells which are recognised as future health markers - babies fed to a schedule are likely to receive significantly less than their cue feeding peers.

Reduced Engorgement - Frequent feeding helps to reduce painful engorgement not only in the initial period post partum when milk “comes in” but also on an ongoing basis. Leaving long periods between feeds can lead to a build up of milk in the breasts which in turn can result in engorgement, blocked ducts, mastitis and even breast abscesses.

Ah but, I hear some cry - feeding on demand causes its own problems. Let’s look at those:

Frequent Or Long Feeds Cause Sore Nipples -
It was once thought baby suckling too frequently or for too long could cause sore nipples, but we now know this is not the case. There is no link with frequency or duration providing positioning and attachment are correct. Imagine wearing a pair of ill fitting shoes; ten minutes may give you sore toes whilst a whole evening could leave you bruised and limping. This is exactly what happens when a baby is not positioned properly at the breast - the more baby feeds the sorer mum becomes.

Ironically, those who suggest limiting feeds to reduce or prevent nipple soreness could in fact contribute to its occurrence. A newborn that is left to cry for even a few minutes can become very disorganised and tired. This in turn can lead to difficulty latching on and sucking effectively, or baby just falling asleep.

Baby Will Drink Too Much Milk
Another common concern is a cue fed baby may consume too much milk and become overweight. There is no link to “excessive breastfeeding” and obesity, on the contrary research indicates when a baby is allowed to manage their own intake they do this extremely well and establish healthy long term eating habits. As breast milk composition is constantly changing it adapts to meet each individual baby’s needs, including those who feed more frequently.

On the flipside, both formula and bottle feeding have been shown to increase the risk of obesity in later life.

Breasts Need To Refill
Another common myth to support scheduled feeding is that the breasts need to “fill up” before feeds. In fact, mums breasts are never empty; there is a continuous trickle even once the initial store is drained. Research demonstrates that the less milk within the breast, the higher the fat content.

Frequent Feeding Encourages The Baby To Snack
Some infants allowed to cue feed will take smaller feeds every hour and a half or so, whilst others will fill their boots and not show signs of wanting more for several hours. Cue feeding allows the baby to follow his or her own natural pattern - small regular snacks are actually a very healthy way to eat, so why the problem if baby does this? (After all it’s not as though there lots of prep/making/sterilising to do every time!) Dietitians encourage eating little and often to optimize the digestive system and maximize growth and development.

So how often?
Typically a breastfeed baby will feed 1 1/2 - 3 hourly, although this may vary if baby is unwell, teething or heading towards a big developmental milestone. There are also recognised “fussy periods” (previously called growth spurts) where baby may want to feed more - the early ones are typically; 3 weeks, 5 weeks, 12 weeks & 17 weeks (these fussy periods occur regardless of how baby is fed, see here for more information.

Crying is a later hunger cue, early cues include; putting their hands to their mouth, moving their heads around a lot towards to breast (called rooting), and making mouthing movements. Feeding when you see an early cue, before baby is crying prevents gulping of air which can result in colic/wind.

Conclusion
In countries where people cannot afford watches and “experts” have not interfered mums can no more count feeds per day than they can kisses on their newborns head, these mums have completely different concept of what is “normal” and do not struggle with milk supply issues or breastfeeding problems in the same way mums in the western world do.

I believe it is important for a mother to accept her baby’s uniqueness from birth and to regard breastfeeding as a mothering tool rather than purely a source of nutrition.

Further recommended reading:

http://www.fix.net/%7Erprewett/evidence.html
http://www.lalecheleague.org/ba/May99.html
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJulAug03p126.html

Formula increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Horn, RS et al “Comparison of evoked arousability in breast and formula fed infants.” 2004 Arch Dis Child.; 89(1):22-25
• Alm et al, “Breastfeeding and the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Scandanavia.” June 2002 Arch of Dis in Child. 86: 400-402.
• McVea, KL et al “The role of breastfeeding in sudden infant death syndrome.” J Hum Lact. 2000;16:13-20
• Fredrickson, DD et al., “Relationship between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Breastfeeding Intensity and Duration.” Am. Journal of Diseases in Children, 1993: 147:460
• Ford RPK, et al .”Breastfeeding and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.” International Journal of Diseases in Children, 1993, 22(5):885-890
• Taylor BJ, Mitchell EA, et al. “Breastfeeding and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Int J. Epidemiol. 1993;22:885-890
• Scragg LK, Mitchell EA, Tonkin SL, et al. “Evaluation of the cot death prevention programme in South Auckland.” NZ Med J. 1993;106:8-10
• http://www.fsid.org.uk/breastfeeding-news.html

Not breastfeeding increases risks of likelihood of gross and fine motor delay
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 3 September 2006, pp. e682-e689 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-3141)

Formula feeding increases baby girls’ risk of developing breast cancer in later life
• Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994 “Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer”. Epidemiology 5:324-331

Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of breast cancer
• Newcomb PA et al. (1994). Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer. New Engl J Med 330: 81-87
• Jernstorm, H et al “Breast-feeding and the risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.” J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96:1094-1098
• Lee, SY et al “Effect of lifetime lactation on breast cancer risk: a Korean women’s cohort study.” Int J Cancer. 2003;105:390-393
• Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer (2002). “Breast cancer and breastfeeding: collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 47 epidemiological studies in 30 countries, including 50,302 women with breast cancer and 96,973 women without the disease.” Lancet 360: 187-95
• Zheng et al, “Lactation Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in Shandong Province, China” Am. J. Epidemiol. Dec. 2000, 152 (12): 1129
• Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al. “Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer.” N Engl J Med. 1994;330:81-87
• Alison M. Stuebe, MD, MSc, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Archives of Internal Medicine. …

Baby’s suckling helps shrink mother’s uterus after childbirth
• The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1999, Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Bottles that contain Bisphenol A may leach into milk
• http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/investigation-scandal-of-danger-chemical-in-baby-bottles-1931628.html

Formula is less digestible than Breastmilk
• The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1999, Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
• Protein – too much of a good thing? http://www.sugar-bureau.co.uk/ca_protein.pdf (full references in article)

Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q
• HMortensen EL et al (2002). “The association between duration of breastfeeding and adult intelligence” JAMA 287: 2365-71
• Anderson JW et al (1999) “Breastfeeding and cognitive development: a meta-analysis” Am J Clin Nutr 70: 525-35
• Horwood and Fergusson, “Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Academic Outcomes” Jan 1998 Pediatrics Vol. 101, No. 1
• Lucas A., “Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm”. Lancet 1992;339:261-62
• Wang YS, Wu SY. “The effect of exclusive breastfeeding on development and incidence of infection in infants.” J Hum Lactation. 1996; 12:27-30

Breast milk is always ready and does not need strict prep guidelines
• http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press4jan06.html
• Presence of soil-dwelling clostridia in commercial powdered infant formulas. J Pediatr. 2010 Mar;156(3):402-8. Epub 2009 Dec 9.
• Infant botulism and sudden infant death syndrome. BARTRAM U, SINGER D. Klin Padiatr 2004;216(1):26-30.
• ww.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_084165.pdf

Breast milk helps pass meconium
• Koutras, A.K., “Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A in Breast Milk vs. Formula Feeding in Early Infancy”. J. Ped Gastro Nutr 1989.

Breastfeeding satisfies baby’s emotional needs and increases bonding between mother and baby
• Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: “Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland.” Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30

Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of developing ovarian cancer
• Hartage et al, “Rates and risks of ovarian cancer in subgroups of white women in the United States.” Obstet Gynecol 1994 Nov; 84(5): 760-764
• Rosenblatt KA, Thomas DB, “Lactation and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer”. Int J Epidemiol. 1993;22:192-197
• Gwinn ML, “Pregnancy, breastfeeding and oral contraceptives and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer.” J. Clin. Epidemiol. 1990; 43:559-568

Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born
• DC.A. Lovelady et al “The effect of weight loss in overweight lactating women on the growth of their infants.” New Eng Journal of Med, 2000; 342: 449-453
• Kramer, F., “Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat.” J. Am Diet Assoc 1993; 93(4):429-33
• Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommwen LA. “Maternal weight-loss patterns during prolonged lactation. “Am J Clin Nutr 1993;58:162-166

Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants
• Hamosh, Margit, PhD, Georgetown University Medical Center “Breast-feeding: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mother’s Milk”.
• Beneficial Effects of Breast Milk in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on the Developmental Outcome of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants at 18 Months of Age
• Betty R. Vohr, Brenda B. Poindexter, Anna M. Dusick, Leslie T. McKinley, Linda L. Wright, John C. Langer, W. Kenneth Poole for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network
• Pediatrics 2006; 118: e115-e123.
• Altman M, Vanpee M, Cnattingius S et al (2009) Moderately preterm infants and determinants of length of hospital stay. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed; 94: F414-F418
• Renfrew M, Craig D, Dyson L et al (2009) Breastfeeding promotion for infants in neonatal units: a systematic review and economic analysis. Health Technol Assess 13(40).

The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it
• “Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding”, World Health Organization in collaboration with UNICEF

Breastfeeding protects against Crohn’s disease (intestinal disorder)
• Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. “Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood.” Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392
• Koletzko S, Sherman P, Corey M, et al. “Role of infant feeding practices in development of Crohn’s disease in childhood.” Br Med J. 1989;298:1617-1618
• Klement E et al (2004). Breastfeeding and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 80: 1342-52.

Formula feeding increases risk of children developing diabetes
• Young, T.K. et al. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002; 156(7): 651-55
• Gerstein HC. “Cow’s milk exposure and type 1 diabetes mellitus”. Diabetes Care. 1994;17:13-19
• Virtanen et al: “Diet, Cow’s milk protein antibodies and the risk of IDDM in Finnish children.” Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group. Diabetologia, Apr 1994, 37(4):381-7
• Virtanen SM, Rasanen L, Aro A, et al. “Infant feeding in Finnish children <7 yr of age with newly diagnosed IDDM” Diabetes Care, 1991;14:415-417

Breastfeeding baby helps decrease insulin requirements in diabetic mothers
• Davies, H.A., “Insulin Requirements of Diabetic Women who Breast Feed.” British Medical Journal, 1989

Breastfeeding may help stabilize progress of maternal endometriosis
• Annie Havard, “Breastfeeding - a cure for endometriosis”, Allaiter ajourd’hui, Quarterly Bulletin of LLL France, No. 25, Oct. - Dec. 1995

Not breastfeeding increases risk of post-partum hemorrhage in mother
• Chua S, et al. “Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity.” Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805

Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of developing endometrial cancer
• Rosenblatt, KA et al “Prolonged lactation and endometrial cancer” Int. J. Epidemiol. 1995; 24:499-503
• Salazar-Martinez E, et al. Reproductive factors of ovarian and endometrial cancer risk in a high fertility population in Mexico. Cancer Res 1999Aug1;59(5):3658-62.
• Newcomb PA, Trentham-Dietz A. Breast feeding practices in relation to endometrial cancer risk, USA. Cancer Causes Control 2000 Aug;11(7):663-7
Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of developing Ovarian Cancer
• Whittemore, A., et al., Characteristics relating to ovarian cancer risk: Collaborative analysis of 12 US case-control studies. American Journal of Epidemiology, 1992. 136 (10): p. 1184-1203.
• Riman, T., et al., Risk factors for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer: results from a Swedish case-control study. Am J Epidemiol, 2002. 156(4): p. 363-73.
• Siskind, V., et al., Breastfeeding, menopause, and epithelial ovarian cancer. Epidemiology, 1997. 8(2): p. 188-91.
• Danforth, K.N., et al., Breastfeeding and risk of ovarian cancer in two prospective cohorts. Cancer Causes Control, 2007. 18(5): p. 517-23.

Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
• Wiggins, PK , Dettwyler, KA” Breastfeeding: A Mother’s Gift”, July 1, 1998 ed., Chapter 1, L.A. Publishing Co.
• Saarinen UM, Kajossari M. “Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years old.” Lancet. 1995;346:1065-1069

Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
• Oddy W.H., et al BMJ 1999;319:815-819

Formula feeding increases baby’s risk of otitis media (ear infections)
• Alho, O., “Risk Factors for Recurrent Acute Otitis Media and Respiratory Infection in Infancy”. INT J PED OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY 1990; 19:151-61
• Aniansson G, Alm B, Andersson B, et al. “A prospective cohort study on breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish infants”. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994; 13:183-188
• Duncan, B et al “Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months protects against Otitis Media”, Pediatrics 91(1993): 897-872

Breastfeeding protects baby against diarroheal infections
• Betran et al; “Ecological Study of effect of breastfeeding on infant mortality in Latin America.” Br Med J 2001; 323:1-5
• Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA. “Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants.” Pediatr. 1995;126:696-702
• Beaudry M, Dufour R, Marcoux S. “Relation Between infant feeding and infections during the first six months of life.” J Pediatr. 1995; 126:191-197
• Howie PW, Forsyth JS, Ogston SA, et al. “Protective effect of breast feeding against infection.” Br Med J. 1990;300:11-16

Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
• Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. “Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors.” J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
• Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. “Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members.” J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198

Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections
• PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 2 February 2006, pp. 425-432 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2283)
• Full Breastfeeding Duration and Associated Decrease in Respiratory Tract Infection in US Children. Caroline J. Chantry, MDa, Cynthia R. Howard, MD, MPHb and Peggy Auinger, MSb,c
• Oddy, WH et al “Breast feeding and respiratory morbidity in infancy: a birth cohort study” Archives of Disease in Childhood 2003;88:224-228
• Galton Bachrach et al (2003) Breastfeeding and the Risk of Hospitalization for Respiratory Disease in Infancy” Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 157:237-243
• Grover M et al “Effect of human milk prostaglandins and lactoferrin on respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus” Acta Paediatr. 1997; 86: 315-316
• Cunningham, Allan S. MD “Breastfeeding, Bottle-feeding and Illness - An Annotated Bibliography”, 1996.
• Wright AL, Holberg CH, Taussig LM, et al. “Relationship of infant feeding to recurrent wheezing at age 6 years.” Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:758-763
• Piscane A, et al “Breastfeeding and acute lower respiratory infections” Acta Paediatr. 1994; 83: 714-718

Formula feeding increases chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis
• Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:526-530 doi:10.1136/ard.2007.084707
• Jacobsson LTH et al “Perinatal Characteristics and risk of rheumatoid arthritis” BMJ 2003; 326: 1068-1069
• “Mother’s Milk: An Ounce of Prevention?” Arthritis Today May-June 1994

Breastfeeding protects baby against some vision defects
• Bloem, M. et al. “The role of universal distribution of vitamin A capsules in combating vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh.: Am J Epidemiol 1995; 142(8): 843-55
• Birch E, et al. “Breastfeeding and optimal visual development.” J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1993;30:33-8

Not breastfeeding increases chances of Osteoporosis
• Kalwart HJ and Specker BL “Bone mineral loss during lactation and recovery after weaning.” Obstet. Gynecol. 1995; 86:26-32
• Blaauw, R. et al. “Risk factors for development of osteoporosis in a South African population.” SAMJ 1994; 84:328-32
• Melton LJ, Bryant SC, Wahner HW, et al. “Influence of breastfeeding and other reproductive factors on bone mass later in life.” Osteoporos Int. 1993;22:684-691
• Cumming RG, Klineberg RJ. “Breastfeeding and other reproductive factors and the risk of hip fractures in elderly woman.” Int J Epidemiol 1993;22:684-691

Formula hinders intestinal development
• “http://www.promom.org/bf_info/sci_am.htm “>Newman, J, MD, FRCPC “How Breast milk Protects Newborns”
• Shulman et al “Early feeding, feeding tolerance and lactase activity in preterm infants.” J Pediatr 1998; 133:645-649
• Catassi et al “Intestinal permeability changes coloring the first month; effect of natural versus artificial feeding.” J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1995; 21: 383-386

Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life
• Epidemiology. 17(1):112-114, January 2006
• Armstrong, J et al, “Breastfeeding and lowering the risk of childhood obesity.” Lancet 2002, 349: 2003-4
• Toschke, A.M. et al, “Overweight and obesity in 6 to 14-year-old Czech children in 1991: protective effect of breast-feeding”, J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2002 Dec; 141(6):764-9
• von Kries, R et al, “Breastfeeding and obesity: cross sectional study.” BMJ 1999; 319:147-150 (July 17)

Bottle fed infants have more chance of pulmonary distress whilst feeding.
• Koenig HS, Davies Am, Thach BT. “Coordination of breathing, sucking and swallowing during bottle feedings in human infants.” J Appl Physiol 69: 1629: 1623-1629, 1990.
• Matthew O, Clark ML, Ponske MH. Apnea, bradycardia, and cyanosis during oral feeding in term neonates.” J Pediatr 106:857, 1985

Non breastfed infants have more chance of developing ulcerative colitis
• Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. “Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood.” Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392

Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. bacteria
• Silfverdal et al, “Protective effects of breastfeeding: an ecological study of haemophilus influenzae (HI) meningitis and breastfeeding in a Swedish population.” Int J Epidem 1999; 28:152-6
• Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. “Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors.” J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
• Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. “Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members.” J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198

Breastfed babies require shorter pre- and post-surgical fasting
• Schreiner, M.S. “Preoperative and Postoperative fasting in children.” Ped Clinics N Amer 41 (1); 111-20 (1994)

Breastfeeding results in less sick days for parents
• (Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program - 1995)

Breastfed infants showed better serum and secretory responses to oral and parenteral vaccines than those formula-fed
• Han-Zoric, M., “Antibody responses to parenteral and oral vaccines are impaired by conventional and low protein formulas as compared to breastfeeding.” Acta Paediatr Scand 1990; 79:1137-42

Breastfed babies have less chance of developing Necrotizing Enterocolitis
• Updegrove, K “Necrotizing Enteroclolitis: The evidence for use of human milk in prevention and treatment.” J Hum Lact 2004; 20: 335-339
• Drane, D. “Breastfeeding and formula feeding: a preliminary economic analysis” Breastfeed Rev 1997; 5:7-15
• Convert RF, Barman N, Comanico RS, et al. “Prior enteral nutrition with human milk protects against intestinal perforation in infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis.” Pediatr Res. 1995; 37:305A. Abstract
• Lucas A, Cole TJ. “Breast milk and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.” Lancet. 1990; 336:519-1523

Breastfeeding contributes to optimal child spacing
• Kennedy KI, Visness CM. “Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea.” Lancet. 1992; 339:227-230
• Labbock MH, Colie C. “Puerperium and breast-feeding.” Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 4:818-825

Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of pounds
• The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2009-1616)
• Riordan, J “The cost of not breastfeeding: a commentary” J Hum Lact 1997; 13(2) 93-97
• http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496 - A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk Pediatrics Vol. 115 No. 2 February 2005
• http://www.babyfeedinglawgroup.org.uk/resources/whychangelaw.html

Non breastfed babies require more doctor visits
• (Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program - 1995)
• British Journal General Practice 2004 Aug: 54(505):598-603

Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein
• J Am Diet Assoc 2001; 101: 1213

Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquiliser for mom and protects against maternal abuse
• Does Breastfeeding Protect Against Substantiated Child Abuse and Neglect? A 15-Year Cohort Study
• Pediatrics, Feb 2009; 123: 483 - 493
• The Breastfeeding Book, Copyright 2000, M. Sears, R.N. and Wm. Sears, M.D.. Little Brown and Co.
• Acheston, L, “Family violence and breastfeeding” Arch. Fam. Med. 1995, 4:650-652

Formula fed infants are less healthier over-all
• (Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program - 1995)
• Hamosh M. Bioactive factors in human milk. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2001;48:69–86.
• Nathavitharana KA, Catty D, McNeish AS. IgA antibodies in human milk: epidemiological markers of previous infections? Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1994;71:F192–F197.

Non breastfed babies are more likely to die before their third birthday
• Pediatrics (2004) American Academy of Pediatrics
• Van Den Bogaard, C. “Relationship Between Breast Feeding in Early Childhood and Morbidity in a general Population.”Fan Med, 1991; 23:510-515

Formula is not environmentally friendly
• “Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk” D. Michels, Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm

Breastfeeding may lower the risk of developing high cholesterol
• Owen CG et al (2002) “Infant Feeding and Blood Cholesterol: A Study in Adolescents and a Systemic Review” Pediatrics 110: 597-608

Not breastfeeding increases risk of Cardiovascular problems in mum
• Erica Gunderson, Ph.D., epidemiologist and research scientist, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, Calif.; Jacob Warman, M.D., chief of endocrinology, Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York City; Dec. 3, 2009, Diabetes, online

Not breastfeeding increases risk of Postnatal Depression
• Groër MW, Davis MW: Cytokines, infections, stress, and dysphoric moods in breastfeeders and formula feeders. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2006, 35:599-607
• Groër MW, Davis MW, Hemphill J: Postpartum stress: Current concepts and the possible protective role of breastfeeding. J Obstet Gyncol Neonatal Nurs 2002, 31:411-417.
• Bottle feeding simulates child loss: Postpartum depression and evolutionary medicine
• Medical Hypotheses, Volume 74, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 174-176
• Gordon G. Gallup Jr., R. Nathan Pipitone, Kelly J. Carrone and Kevin L. Leadholm

Breast milk aids in the proper development of a baby’s gastrointestinal tract
• The Breastfeeding Book, Copyright 2000, M. Sears, R.N. and Wm. Sears, M.D.. Little Brown and Co.
• http://www.iwantmymum.com/site/articles/exclusive-breastfeeding-virgin-gut/154

Studies show that formula feeding/supplementing mothers get LESS sleep
• www.ibreastfeeding.com/content/newsletter/nighttime-breastfeeding-and-maternal-mental-health

Breastmilk has never been recalled due to manufacturing problems
• Babbit, V, “FDA Recalls Baby Formula, 1998″, Breastfeeding.com, Inc.

No need to worry about which brand is better
• http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/health/268712/suck_on_this.html
• (Quoted from FDA pediatric-nutrition researchers at Abbott Laboratories, writing in March, 1994 issue of Endocrine Regulations.)

Breastfed babies get fewer stomach infections
• Kramer et al “Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial” JAMA 2001; 285: 413-420

Bottle feeding hinders proper dental and jaw development
• The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
• Labbok, M.H. “Does Breastfeeding Protect against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987
• Archives of Diseases in Childhood 2004; 89: 1121-1123
• http://www.brianpalmerdds.com/bfing_import.htm

Bottlefed babies have more tooth decay
• Loesche WJ, “Nutrition and dental decay in infants.” Am J Clin Nutr 41; 423-435, 1985

Breastfeeding reduces the amount of money spent on corrective orthodontia
• Leite ICG, et al. Associação entre aleitamento materno e hábitos de sucção não-nutritivos. Revista da Associação Paulista dos Cirurgiões Dentistas 1999;53:151-5
• Paunio P, Rautava P, Sillanpaa M. The Finnish Family Competence Study: the effects of living conditions on sucking habits in 3-year-old Finnish children and the association between these habits and dental occlusion. Acta Odontol Scand 1993;51:23-9.
• Degano MP, Degano RA. Breastfeeding and oral health. A primer for the dental practitioner. NY State Dent J 1993;59:30-2.

Not breastfeeding increases risks of delayed speech development
Neiva et al, J Pediatr (Rio J) 2003;79(1):07-12

Not breastfeeding increases the chance of baby getting eczema
• Kramer, M et al “Promotion of breastfeeding Intervention Trial” JAMA 2001; 285: 413-420
• Saarinen UM, Kajosaari M “Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years of age.” Lancet. 1995; 346:1065-69.

Formula fed infants more likely to spiut up and reflux
• Heacock, H.J. “Influence of Breast vs. Formula Milk in Physiologic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Healthy Newborn Infants” Jour. Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 January; 14(1): 41-6
• “Gastroesophageal reflux and cow’s milk allergy in infants: a prospective study” (Iacono G et al., J Allergy Clin Immunology (1996) 97:3 822-827)

Breastfeeding is better for premature infants
• Eidelman et al, Dev Psychobiol, 2003 Sept; 43(2): 109-19

Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis in later life
• Pisacana A, et al “Breastfeedig and multiple sclerosis” BMJ 1994; 308: 1411-2 (28 May)

Non breastfed infants have more chance of inguinal hernia
• Pisacane, A. “Breast-feeding and inguinal hernia” Journal of Pediatrics 1995: Vol 127, No. 1, pp 109-111

Non breastfed low birth weight babies display reduced cognitive development
• Morley, R., “Mothers Choice to provide Breast Milk and Developmental Outcome”. Arch Dis Child, 1988

Breastfed babies display better social development
• Baumgartner, C.,”Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life”. Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984

Non breastfed infants have increased risk of urinary tract infections
• Pisacane A, et al “Breastfeeding and Urinary Tract Infection” J Pediatr 1992 120: 87-89

Not breastfeeding delays hand-to-eye coordination
• Baumgartner, C., “Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life”. Acta Paediatrica Hungarica 1984; 25(4): 409-17

Breastfeeding mothers spend less money on menstrual supplies
• http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm - “Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk” D. Michels, Pub various periodicals.

Breast milk may help combat eye infections
• J Trop Pediatr. 1996 Dec;42(6):327-9.
• J Reprod Immunol. 1998 Jul;38(2):155-67.
• J Trop Pediatr. 2007 Feb;53(1):68-9.

Not breastfeeding may increase blood pressure in Childhood
• Martin RM et al (2004). “Does Breast-Feeding in Infancy Lower Blood Pressure in Childhood?” The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Circulation 109
• Martin RM et al (2005). “Breastfeeding in Infancy and Blood Pressure in Later Life: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.” American Journal of Epidemiology 2005 161 (1): 15-26

No worry about latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula
• M. Walker, R.N., International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, The Journal Of Human Lactation, Sept 1993

Not breastfeeding increases risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mother
• Arthritis Rheum 50: 3458-67

Not breastfeeding increases infant’s blood pressure
• Archives of Disease in Childhood 2005;90:582-588

Not breastfeeding increases risks of atherosclerosis
• Martin RM et al (2005). Breastfeeding and Atherosclerosis: Intima-Media Thickness and Plaques at 65-Year Follow-Up of the Boyd Orr Cohort. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biolog 25:1482.

Breastfeeding may protect against schizophrenia
• Sørensen HJ et al (2005). Breastfeeding and risk of schizophrenia in the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2005: 1-4.

Not breastfeeding increases risk of gluten intolerance (coeliac disease)
• Archives of Disease in Childhood 2006.

Not breastfeeding increases mum’s risk of diabetes
• Vol. 294 No. 20, November 23/30, 2005, Duration of Lactation and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes, JAMA. 2005;294:2601-2610.

Breast feeding wards off bed-wetting
• Breastfeeding During Infancy May Protect Against Bed-wetting During Childhood
Joseph G. Barone, Ranjith Ramasamy, Andrew Farkas, Emanuel Lerner, Eileen Creenan, Dawn Salmon, Jessica Tranchell, and Dona Schneider. Pediatrics 2006; 118: 254-259

Not breastfeeding increases hospital admissions
• Paricio Talayero J, Lizan-Garcia M, et al. Full breastfeeding and hospitalization as a result of infections in the first year of life. Pediatrics 2006; 118 (1): e92-e99

Not breastfeeding may increase Autism risks
• Stephen T Schultz , Hillary S Klonoff-Cohen , Deborah L Wingard , Natacha A Akshoomoff , Caroline A Macera , Ming Ji and Christopher Bacher. International Breastfeeding Journal 2006, 1:16 doi:10.1186/1746-4358-1-16

Not breastfeeding increases the likelyhood of mental health problems
• SOURCE: The Journal of Pediatrics, online December 14, 2009.
• ScienceDaily (Oct. 28, 2006)

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding
• http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496 - A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk Pediatrics Vol. 115 No. 2 February 2005

The American Dietetic Association promotes breastfeeding
• http://www.eatright.org/Public/NutritionInformation/92_8236.cfm - ADA Website

Please note - references are listed by topic at the end.

Human milk is the norm for a human infant - just as cow’s milk is normal for calves. It is not optimum, or best, it’s just normal. Giving any mammal, the milk of another species - in this case giving babies cow’s milk, has the potential to carry risks compared to giving them milk from their own species.

Human milk contains completely different proportions of protein, fat, carbohydrates. Cows milk is designed to help put on weight quickly, grow amazingly fast, and develop only as much brain power as a cow needs. After all, a calf is able to stand and walk on the day it is born. The natural hormones in cows milk are geared toward cows, not humans. The fact that human beings can even partially digest the milk of another species in sort of amazing when you stop to think about it.

Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood cancers

Scientists have found a component in breastmilk called HAMLET can kill more than 40 types of cancers, including aggressive forms such as lung cancers & brain tumours. Crucially unlike any current cancer treatment, healthy cells are left unharmed.

In a study done by researchers at the University of Minnesota it was found that babies who were breast fed for at least one month had a 21% less chance of getting leukemia than formula fed babies. The risk was 30% for children breast fed for 6 months.

Another found non breastfed infants were 8 times more likely to develop lymphatic cancer.

A new analysis of 14 studies by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley has found babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing childhood leukaemia. The paper, published November in the journal Public Health Reports, found that breastfeeding was linked to lower risks of both Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common of the childhood cancers, and Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML).

A case-control study was used to assess whether inadequate exposure to the immunological benefits of human milk may affect infants’ response to infection and make them more susceptible to childhood malignancies. 201 Denver children with cancer diagnosed at 1·5-15 years of age were compared with 181 controls, who were selected to be similar to cases for age, sex, and area of residence. Infant feeding categories were: breast feeding (BF) >6 months; BF 6 months; and artificial feeding (AF, or exclusive non-human milk feeding). Compared with BF >6 months, a raised risk for total cancers was found in both BF 6 month and AF groups. This increased risk was largely due to an increased incidence of lymphoma.

Formula increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Sadly, as of now, researchers have not yet discovered any one factor to account for SIDS. However, there are a number of studies showing a link between lack of breastfeeding and SIDS.

In April 2008 The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) announced that that formula fed infants were more than twice as likely to die from SIDS than breast fed infants. The study, a meta-analysis comprising the results of 27 different studies conducted since 1965, examined the relationship between breastfeeding and cot death in the developed world.

FSID Director, Joyce Epstein, says:

“There are so many reasons why breast is best, but there are none that can be stronger than potentially saving your child’s life. We encourage every new mum to breastfeed.”

A Swedish study has found that babies who were breastfed exclusively for less than 8 weeks had a 3 - 5 times greater risk of dying from SIDS than babies who were breastfed exclusively for four months

Not breastfeeding increases risks of likelihood of gross and fine motor development delay

A study found the proportion of infants who mastered the developmental milestones increased with duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Infants who had never been breastfed were 50% more likely to have gross motor coordination delays than infants who had been breastfed exclusively for at least 4 months. Any breast milk also was positively related to development: infants who had never been breastfed were 30% more likely to have gross motor delays than infants who were given some breast milk for up to 2 months. Infants who were never breastfed had at least a 40% greater likelihood of fine motor delay than infants who were given breast milk for a prolonged period.

CONCLUSION. Our results suggest that the protective effect of breastfeeding on the attainment of gross motor milestones is attributable to some component(s) of breast milk or feature of breastfeeding and is not simply a product of advantaged social position, education, or parenting style, because control for these factors did not explain any of the observed association. In contrast, the association between breastfeeding and fine motor delay was explained by biological, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors.

Formula feeding increases baby girls’ risk of developing breast cancer in later life

Women who were formula-fed as infants have higher rates of breast cancer as adults. For both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, women who were breastfed as children, even if only for a short time, had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who were bottle-fed as infants.

Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of breast cancer

Many studies have shown that women who breastfeed have lower risks of developing breast cancer. Cancer Research UK states: Breastfeeding can protect you against developing breast cancer. We don’t know exactly how breastfeeding is protective but we know that it definitely is.

A large Cancer Research UK study in 2002 compared breastfeeding history in women who had breast cancer with women who hadn’t. It was a very large study, involving the histories of 150,000 women. The longer the women had breastfed during their lifetime, the less likely they were to get breast cancer.

According to the researchers, this was a very striking finding. They made sure that the women’s age, menopausal status, ethnic origin, number of births and their age at the birth of their first child were all taken into account. Breast feeding still lowered breast cancer risk by 4.3% for every year of feeding. There is also a 7% reduction in risk of breast cancer for each child born.

Another multi-centre trial in the USA included more than 14000 pre- and post-menopausal women. It concluded that breast cancer risk was 22% lower among pre-menopausal women who had ever breastfed than among those who had not.

The authors of the study estimated that if all women with children breastfed for a total of 4-12 months, breast cancer among pre-menopausal women could be reduced by 11%. In addition, they suggested that if women with children breastfed for a lifetime total of 24 months or longer, the incidence of this form of breast cancer might be reduced by almost 25%.

Lastly a study in September 2009 found Breast-feeding baby for even 3 months reduced risk by 59 percent for women who have a previously diagnosed sister or mother.

Bottles that contain Bisphenol A may leach into milk

As of March 2010, Leading British retailers were selling baby bottles in the UK that are banned in Canada and US.

BPA, a synthetically-produced hormonal substance which is added to plastics to make them tougher - can leach into milks. According to independent scientists, BPA may be an underlying cause of a collection of illnesses rapidly rising in the West, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, fertility problems and birth defects. One of a class of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, BPA interferes with the release of the female hormone oestrogen, and its impact is greatest on disorders associated with metabolism, fertility and neural development.

Breast Cancer UK has launched a campaign calling for the removal of BPA from baby products. Clare Dimmer, chair of trustees at the charity, said:

“It’s amazingly cynical that, despite the serious health concerns surrounding infant BPA exposure, retailers and manufacturers still find it perfectly acceptable to continue to sell BPA stock here despite similar products already being withdrawn from sale in the US and Canada.”

Read more here

Formula is less digestible than Breastmilk

“In recent years nutritionists have voiced concern about overly high levels of protein in the Western diet. Cow’s milk contains about twice as much protein as human milk. Formula-fed babies often receive more protein than they need (much of it in the form of the less digestible casein).

The impact of early nutrition on subsequent growth and disease is described as programming. What happens to a child before the age of two can be seen to influence their growth, weight and health for many years afterwards. Infants fed a high-protein diet also show increased levels of growth stimulating hormones.

Baby’s suckling helps shrink mother’s uterus after childbirth

The uterus of the non-breastfeeding mother will never shrink back to its pre-pregnant size. It will always remain slightly enlarged.

Nursing will help you to regain your figure more quickly, since the process of lactation causes the uterus (which has increased during pregnancy to about 20 times its normal size) to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size.

Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q

Human breast milk provides normal brain and cognitive development.

One study has found that the average I.Q. of 7 and 8 year old children who had been formula fed as babies was 10 points lower than their breastfed peers. All of the children involved had been born prematurely and tube fed the human milk, indicating that the milk itself, not the act of breastfeeding, caused this difference in I.Q. level.

Another study to support this statement was done in New Zealand. Here an 18 year longitudinal study of over 1,000 children found that those who were bottlefed as infants had both lower intelligence and reduced academic achievement than children who were breastfed.

Breast milk is always ready and does not need strict prep guidelines, formula can be contaminated with bacteria.

Powdered infant milk is not sterile and recent studies have found potentially life threatening bacteria can contaminate the product. Therefore new guidelines are that ALL bottles should be made and used immediately; using water that has been heated to above 70 degrees and allowed to cool for no more than 30 minutes.
In lower temperatures and longer periods of time, bacteria can thrive - leading to sickness and diarrhoea bugs, Gastroenteritis, E-Coli and E -sakazakii (which can lead to Meningitis)

These conditions are only common in formula fed infants.

Furthermore March 2010 - Researchers studies samples from 30 infants in California that were infected with Botulism, and took samples from market purchased powdered infant formula. 7 of 9 of the samples of formula were shown to contain multiple strains of Botulism. Botulism is also suspected to be linked to some infant deaths that are officially classified as SIDS.

Breast milk helps pass meconium

Babies are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines. Colostrum, or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the infant’s body which reduces the risks of jaundice.

Breastfeeding satisfies baby’s emotional needs and increases bonding between mother and baby.

Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother’s body. “It is now well established that oxytocin promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring.”

Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of developing ovarian cancer

Based on the research, breastfeeding for a total of 12 to 24 months can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer by about one-third.

Nursing helps mum lose weight after baby is born

Breastfeeding requires an average of 500 extra calories per day and breastfeeding mothers who eat a normal diet lose the extra weight they gained during pregnancy faster than moms who choose to bottle feed. In one study, mothers who breastfed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their pre-pregnancy weights at 1 month postpartum than mothers who fed formula exclusively.

Other studies have also shown that women who were overweight when they began their pregnancies can safely get closer to their ideal weight by breastfeeding in conjunction with a moderate exercise program.

Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants

It is known that when babies are born preterm or are sick, the use of breastmilk substitutes is associated with increased adverse outcomes both in the short and long term.

“Milk produced by women who deliver prematurely differs from that produced after a full-term pregnancy. Specifically, during the first month after parturition, pre-term milk maintains a composition similar to that of colostrum..”

Researchers tracked 1,035 extremely low-birthweight infants born at 15 hospitals. About three-quarters of the babies received at least some breast milk in the hospital. One-quarter received only formula. Even when the researchers took education and income into account, the formula fed infants scored lower on tests of mental development when they were 18 months old. The more breast milk the babies consumed, the better they did on the tests. The societal implications of a 5-point potential difference (one third of an SD) in IQ are substantial.

UNICEF also reports that moderately premature infants leave hospital up to two weeks sooner when breastfed.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it.

“Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. There after, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production”.

Breastfeeding protects against Crohn’s disease (intestinal disorder)

Crohn’s Disease is a chronic intestinal disorder. It is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation extending into the deeper layers of the intestinal wall. It is difficult to treat, but several studies have shown that non breastfed infants are at increased risk of the disease in later life.

Formula feeding increases risk of children developing diabetes

There are many studies linking development of insulin dependant Type I diabetes (formerly referred to as “juvenile diabetes”) to lack of breastfeeding. The results of a study from Finland suggest that the introduction of dairy products at an early age, and high milk consumption during childhood increase the level of cow’s milk antibodies in the children’s systems. This factor is associated with an increased risk of insulin dependent diabetes.

Now a new study has indicated that not breastfeeding also increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. This sort of diabetes was formerly referred to as “adult onset” diabetes, but has been mysteriously occurring in more and more youngsters.

Breastfeeding baby helps decrease insulin requirements in diabetic mothers

Reduction in insulin dose postpartum was significantly greater in those who were breastfeeding than those who were bottle feeding

Breastfeeding may help stabilize progress of maternal endometriosis

There is much clinical research showing that pregnancy like hormonal drug treatments, usually suppresses the symptoms of endometriosis. Breastfeeding frequently delays the return of the menstrual cycle and so can also delay the return of symptoms after baby is born.

Not breastfeeding increases risk of post-partum hemorrhage in mother

Nursing her baby causes the mother’s body to release oxytocin, which stimulates contractions to help shrink the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size while expelling the placenta. These contractions also shut off the maternal blood vessels that formerly fed the baby and discourage excessive bleeding. Women who choose not to breastfeed must be given synthetic oxytocin to insure against hemorrhaging.

Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of developing Endometrial Cancer

A World Health Organization study has shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the less likely she is to get Endometrial Cancer. Other studies echo this result.

Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of developing Ovarian Cancer

There was an approximate 20% reduced risk of ovarian cancer in parous women who had ever breastfed compared to those who had never breastfed in one collaborative study.

Another study found an effect only in certain histological subtypes of ovarian cancer.

The only prospective study to examine this issue showed a significant reduction in risk for women breastfeeding for 18 months or longer.

Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies.

“Artificially fed infants have more allergies than breastfed infants. This is especially important if your family has a history of allergies. Many babies are allergic to cow’s milk formulas. Some babies are even allergic to soy formulas. Breastfeeding protects against other allergies, such as atopic eczema, food allergies, and respiratory allergies.”

Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma

A number of studies have linked lack of breastfeeding to asthma. According to one study, six year old children were more likely to have asthma if they had not been exclusively breastfed for at least 4 months.

Formula feeding increases baby’s risk of otitis media (ear infections)

Research has shown that ear infections are up to 3-4 times more prevalent in formula-fed infants.

Aew study of 315 infants who were fed breast milk from a bottle shows that these infants had fewer ear infections than infants who got formula from a bottle.

Conclusion: it’s not just the mechanics of breast feeding but something in the breast milk itself that helps protect against ear infections, says the medical journal Infectious Diseases in Children.

Researchers from the State University of New York’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences revealed how exclusively breastfed children have a decreased risk of otitis media - More than 300 infants were included the study, which found peak incidence of acute otitis media and otitis media effusion (when pus is discharged from the inner ear) was inversely related to rates of breastfeeding beyond three months of age.

Infants who where exclusively formula fed had a twofold elevated risk of first episodes of inner ear infections compared to infants who were exclusively breastfed for at least six months. The researchers found that formula-feeding was the most significant predictor of inner ear infections, although the amount of time spent at day care was also a risk factor

A 1990 study on the risk factors for recurrent acute otitis media and respiratory infection in infancy found that short durations of breastfeeding is a significant risk of recurrent middle ear infections.

Breastfeeding protects baby against diarroheal infections

Numerous studies have shown that diarroheal infections are much more common in formula-fed babies. This is true throughout the world, despite a common misconception that only people living in areas with contaminated water need be concerned with this issue. Such infections are more likely to be fatal in developing nations, but all formula-fed infants are at greater risk than their breastfed peers.

Formula offers no protection to baby against bacterial meningitis

Meningitis is an infection which causes the inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a type of bacteria called Hemophilus influenzae type b (HiB). Breastfeeding is protective against infections caused by this bacteria, and the meningitis which may result.

Formula offers no protection to baby against respiratory infections

Breastfeeding effectively protects nurslings from many life-threatening respiratory infection including those caused by rotaviruses. Studies have shown non breastfed infants are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia or bronchiolitis, and have five times more lower respiratory tract infections compared to formula-fed infants. According to a recent meta-analysis of studies from developed countries, the risk of severe respiratory tract illness resulting in hospitalization is more than tripled among infants who are not breastfed, compared with those who are exclusively breastfed for four months.

A 2006 study concluded: Babies fully breastfed for six months are less likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses in their first two years than babies fully breastfed for only four months. We found that babies who received an additional two months of full breastfeeding were over four times less likely to contract pneumonia.

Formula feeding increases chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis

May 2008 - Swedish researchers announced that “Breastfeeding halves rheumatoid arthritis risk”.

“Mothers who breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to get the painful joint condition as women who never breastfed”

said Mitra Pikwer and colleagues at the Malmo University Hospital in Sweden, who led the study.

“Although it is difficult to separate the effect of breast feeding from that of childbirth, our data suggest that rheumatoid arthritis is inversely associated with long-term breastfeeding, rather than with the number of children born,”

they said.

An earlier University of North Carolina/Duke University study had indicated breastfed children were only 40% as likely to develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Breastfeeding protects baby against some vision defects

In a study in Bangladesh, breastfeeding was a protective factor for night blindness among preschool-aged children in both rural and urban areas. Breast milk is generally the main, if not the only source, of vitamin A during a child’s first 24 months of life (or for the duration of breastfeeding).

Not breastfeeding increases chances of Osteoporosis

According to many studies, both non breastfeeding mothers and their children will be at increased risk for development of this disease. One study found that the odds that a woman with osteoporosis did not breastfeed her baby was 4 times higher than for a control woman. In another study, Dr. Alan Lucas, MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Center of London, found that 8-year-olds who were fed formula rather than breast fed as infants, had less developed bone mineralization than those fed breast milk.

“Bone mineral density decreases during lactation, but after weaning showed higher bone mineral density than those who did not breastfeed.”

Formula hinders intestinal development

The gastrointestinal system of a newborn baby is not yet mature. It is still permeable, allowing bacteria, viruses and toxins to pass through. This intestinal permeability decreases more slowly in formula-fed babies. According to Dr. Jack Newman “…certain hormones in milk (such as cortisol) and smaller proteins (including epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor and somatomedin C) act to close up the leaky mucosal lining of the newborn, making it relatively impermeable to unwanted pathogens and other potentially harmful agents.

Indeed, animal studies have demonstrated that postnatal development of the intestine occurs slower in animals fed milk not from their own species. And animals who do not receive colostrum, containing the highest concentrations of epidermal growth factor, mature even more slowly.”

Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life

A study of 32200 Scottish 3 year old children found that the incidence of obesity was significantly lower among those who had been breastfed, after adjusting for socioeconomic status, birthweight and gender. Another study, this one of Czech children, found that the even older children (6 -14) who had been breastfed were less at risk for overweight/obesity. Additionally, a German study found that 4.5% of formula fed children are obese, while only 0.8% of breastfed children have this condition

In a study published in the journal Epidemiology, Harvard researchers found that even within a single family, children who were breastfed for a longer time were slightly less likely to become overweight than their siblings who were breastfed for a shorter period.

The difference within families was similar to that found in the study population as a whole, where each 4-month increase in breastfeeding was linked to a 6 percent dip in the risk of becoming overweight by adolescence.

Bottle fed infants have more chance of pulmonary distress whilst feeding

Bottle-fed babies are at increased risk of cardiopulmonary disturbances, including prolonged airway closure and obstructed respiratory breaths due to repeated swallowing. According to one study, infants can experience oxygen saturation below 90% when bottle feeding. Nine of 50 healthy term infants in one study experienced bradycardia during bottle feeding. Six of these episodes were preceded by apnea, three showed hypopnea (marked reduction in ventilation) and one had certral apnea (no respiratory efforts).

Non breastfed infants have more chance of developing ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulceration and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum. A number of studies have shown that non breastfed infants are more likely to develop this disease.

Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. bacteria

Hemophilus influenzae type b is a bacteria which can grow in the respiratory tract with no symptoms, but may spread into the throat, ears or blood and cause grave illness. Non breastfed babies are much more vulnerable to such an overgrowth. . Interestingly, a 1999 Swedish study found that even 5 - 10 years later, children who had been breastfed were much less likely to contract hemophilus b.

Breastfed babies require shorter pre- and post-surgical fasting

Breastfeeding is considered a clear fluid, unlike formula which is dairy. Breastfeeding may continue until three hours before arrival time at the hospital in healthy children having elective surgery.

Breastfeeding results in less sick days for parents

Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier than their formula fed peers, the parents of breastfed babies spend less time out of work taking care of sick children.

Breastfeeding also reduces stress levels of the mother, another common reason for time away from work.

Breastfed infants showed better serum and secretory responses to oral and parenteral vaccines than those formula-fed.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services’ National Women’s Health Information Center, breastfed babies respond better to immunizations against polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and Haemophilus influenzae than formula-fed babies.

Breastfed babies have less chance of developing Necrotizing Enterocolitis

This disease occurs most commonly in premature or sick newborns and can be fatal. An Australian study has estimated that 83% of NEC cases may be attributed to lack of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding contributes to optimal child spacing

First of all, please know that it is certainly possible to get pregnant while you are still breastfeeding. However, many breastfeeding women do not ovulate for the first 6 months or so following the birth of a new baby. This is true only for those who are exclusively breastfeeding 8-12 times per day (no supplements or solid food), are nightfeeding, have not yet gotten their periods back following childbirth (and had no blood loss/spotting) and uses no pacifiers or bottles. This method of birth control is known as “LAM” and is around 97% effective.

Breastfeeding is easier than using formula

After the initial start up period, breastfeeding is very easy. All you have to do is raise your shirt and let the little one latch on. No shopping for formula, bottles, and other supplies. No mixing, heating, refrigerating and cleaning up of formula. No running out or forgetting something vital! If you sleep with your baby, or sleep the baby next to your bed, you can forget about all the disturbing nighttime rituals associated with formula use. All you have to do is roll over, let the baby latch on, and go back to sleep!

Breast milk is free

Any way you look at it, you’ll spend a lot more money if you choose to formula feed. The added calories a nursing mother must take in are a negligible expense, and nursing clothes are optional. If you need to pump, excellent pumps are available for between £25 and £120. A good pump can be used for more than one child, so they are really an investment. Do be sure to buy a pump manufactured by a company specializing in their manufacture. Beware of pumps made by formula companies. Many woman report these pumps to be inefficient at best, and painful at worst.

Formula is expensive

It presently costs upward of £800 per year to formula feed an infant in the UK. There is not just the milk to consider, but bottles, teats, sterilisers and warmers.

Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of pounds

The U.S. government spends more than $2,665,715 a year to provide formula for the children of non-breastfeeding mothers participating in the WIC supplemental food program. Of course, this doesn’t take into consideration the additional costs of caring for those infants who are statistically much more likely to get sick. According to research 2009; not bresatfeeding costs the US £13 billion per year.

In the UK, more mothers breastfeeding would bring health gains to mothers and babies and savings for the NHS in both the short and longer term. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of a range of diseases including gastroenteritis in babies, neonatal necrotising enterocolitis (in pre-term infants), child onset diabetes mellitus and middle ear and respiratory infections.

” The main cost saving to the NHS comes immediately in the form of reduced hospital admissions for gastroenteritis. The rate of admissions in babies bottle fed or breastfed for only a short period is just over 5 times more than in babies breastfed for 13 weeks or more. At a cost per inpatient stay of about £1200, the saving associated with each one percentage point increase in breastfeeding in the average health district is about £4,000 - about a half a million pounds in England and Wales. For Gastroenteritis ALONE - If all babies were breastfed this would be equivalent to almost £300,000 a year for the average district or £35 million for the country as a whole.”

Non breastfed babies require more doctor visits

Since non breastfed babies are statistically less healthy, they see the doctor more often.

Thirteen general practices in Glasgow were involved in a study of 935 babies. During their first six months, researchers investigated GP consultation rates and multi-level modeswere used to analyse the number of each consultations of reach baby during its first 26 weeks.

Results showed the strongest predictor of consultation rates was previus consultations, particularly during the preceeding week. Breastfed babies visited their GP 15% less often than formula-fed babies and those with older mothers also consulted less often.

Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein

Formula companies are constantly adjusting these proportions looking for the best composition. The reality is that a mother’s milk composition changes from feeding to feeding depending on the needs of her child. No formula can do that! According to the American Dietetic Association blockquote>”human milk provides optimal nutrition to the infant with its dynamic composition and the appropriate balance of nutrients provided in easily digestible and bioavailable forms.”

Breast milk acts like a natural tranquiliser for baby

Mother’s milk contains chemicals and hormones that relax and calm baby and seem to work like “knock-out drops” for tired babies. Even if baby doesn’t fall asleep, he/she will certainly calm down and become more agreeable. If you choose to breastfeed into toddlerhood, you may find that the “terrible twos” never materialize. As you don’t have to worry about over feeding breastfed babies, you can use this handy tool any time your baby needs settling!

Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquiliser for mom and protects against maternal abuse

Nursing mothers often joke about falling asleep on the job. The sleep inducing qualities of nursing a baby are remarkable. Even pumping at work can be a great way to calm down and get refocused during a stressful day. All this relaxation is caused by the hormone oxytocin, which is released each time a mother breastfeeds. It decreases blood pressure and calms the mother.

Interestingly, studies have also found that there were far fewer incidences of domestic violence and sexual abuse in breastfeeding families. One study found “Mothers who didn’t breastfeed were almost four times more likely to be reported for maternal neglect than mothers who breastfed for four of more months.”

“For mothers who breastfed for less than four months, the risk was about 2.3 times.”

Breast milk tastes better than formula

Human breast milk is sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland. Which would you rather eat?

Formula fed infants are less healthier over-all

Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest HMOs in the U.S. has conducted internal research to determine the value of the company lactation support program. This research found that formula fed babies had many health disadvantages compared to breastfed babies, including worse overall health.

These differences in health outcomes can be explained, in part, by specific and innate immune factors present in human milk which provide specific protection against pathogens in the mother’s environment. In addition, innate immune factors in milk provide protection against infection

Non breastfed babies are more likely to die before their third birthday

Not only are non breastfed babies less likely to contract life-threatening diseases, they are lessr able to combat any illnesses that may develop.

Rsearch April 2009 found at least 900 infant deaths in America were directly due to formula.

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Chicago, surveyed nearly 9000 infant deaths throughout America. They found that breastfed babies were 20% less likely to die between one and twelve months than those who were not. The longer babies were breastfed, the lower the risk of early death.

Breast milk is always the right temperature

Severe burns to babies’ mouths have occurred due to improper heating of artificial milks. Even when it’s done correctly, it’s never fun to try to warm a bottle for a fussing baby

Formula is not environmentally friendly

Wrappers, canisters, disposable bottles etc, transportation…

“If every child in America were bottle-fed, almost 86,000 tons of tin would be needed to produce 550 million cans for one year’s worth of formula. If every mother in Great Britain breastfed, 3000 tons of paper (used for formula labels) would be saved in a year. But formula is not the only problem. Bottles and nipples require plastic, glass, rubber, and silicon; production of these materials can be resource-intensive and often leads to end-products that are not-recyclable. All these products use natural resources, cause pollution in their manufacture and distribution and create trash in their packaging, promotion, and disposal.”

Breastfeeding means no bottles to wash and carry.

Unless you’re pumping and transporting the milk for later. Even then there are fewer bottles to deal with as the milk is ready and does not need special preparation due to live antibacterial properties.

Breastfeeding may lower the risk of developing high cholesterol

A recent British study found that breastfeeding seems to be associated with lower levels of damaging cholesterol in adulthood. The authors concluded that breastfeeding may have long-term benefits for cardiovascular health.

No need to refrigerate

Of course, breast milk stays fresh because it’s made on demand. Even pumped breast milk keeps for a long time outside of the fridge.

Check out the guidelines for storing breast milk at breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

Not breastfeeding increases risk of Cardiovascular problems in mum

A study Dec 2009 found Breast-feeding, even for just a couple of months could significantly lower a woman’s risk of metabolic syndrome - a dangerous cluster of heart disease risk factors years later. And, the longer a woman breast-fed, the better it was for her later health. Breast-feeding for longer than nine months dropped the risk of metabolic syndrome by 86 percent in women with gestational diabetes. Women without gestational diabetes saw a 56 percent reduction in their risk of metabolic syndrome, according to the study.

“We found a very strong protective effect for lactation, and longer duration is associated with a greater risk reduction,”

Gunderson.

Not breastfeeding increases risk of Postnatal Depression

Breastfeeding has an important role to play in mothers’ postpartum mental health. Groër and Davis noted that “breastfeeding confers some psychoneuroimmunological benefits to mothers” in part because of its impact on stress. In an earlier review, Groër, Davis and Hemphill noted that although women experience many stressors in the postpartum period, breastfeeding protects them by inducing calm, lessening maternal reactivity to stressors, and increasing nurturing behaviour. The PNI approach is relevant to lactation specialists because it demonstrates that breastfeeding can protect mothers’ mental health and is worth preserving whenever possible.

Opting not to breastfeed precludes and/or brings all of the processes involved in lactation to a halt. For most of human evolution the absence or early cessation of breastfeeding would have been occasioned by miscarriage, loss, or death of a child. We contend, therefore, that at the level of her basic biology a mother’s decision to bottle feed unknowingly simulates child loss

- University of Albany evolutionary psychologist Gordon Gallup.

There is at least correlational evidence to support this evolutionary claim, too. For example, in a paper presented earlier this year, Gallup and his colleagues reported their findings that, among a sample of 50 mothers recruited from local pediatric clinics and who had given birth in the previous 4-6 months, those who bottle fed scored significantly higher on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale than breastfeeders did. This effect panned out even after controlling for the mother’s age, education, income and relationship status with her current partner.

Women who do not exclusively breastfeed also get less sleep, get less restorative sleep, and are more likely to suffer depression. (see below)

Breast milk aids in the proper development of a baby’s gastrointestinal tract

“The cells of the mature intestinal lining are tightly packed together so that potential allergens cannot seep through into the bloodstream. But in the early months, the lining of a baby’s immature intestines is more like a sieve, allowing potential allergens to get through, which sets the infant…up for allergies and infections. Breast milk contains a special protein called imunoglobulin A (IgA), which acts like a protective sealant in the digestive tract…Breast milk also contains a special substance called epidermal growth factor (EGF), which promotes the growth of the cells lining baby’s intestines as well as other surface cells, such as the cells of the skin.”

Breast milk provides natural pain relief for baby

Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins) and is recognised as a painkiller by the British Medical Journal. Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of nursing. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to nurse immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine’s effectiveness.

Human milk is the perfect food for a sick infant

When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to digest. Breast milk, however is considered a clear fluid, is easily digested and soothing to the intestines - so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucous formation.

Studies show that formula feeding/supplementing mothers get LESS sleep…

Several studies between 2004 and 2009, showed that exclusive breastfeeding mothers got more sleep. Three sets of parents have been studied: those that were exclusively breastfeeding, those that were breastfeeding AND formula feeding, and those who were feeding only formula.

Although, the exclusively breastfeeding mothers were awakened more times throughout the night than the other mothers, they still got an average of 40-45 minutes MORE sleep each night.

Not only did the breastfeeding mothers get more sleep, they got BETTER SLEEP. The studies showed that REM (rapid eye movement) sleep was similar within the groups, but the difference in slow-wave sleep (SWS) was remarkable. People who get less SWS report more day-time fatigue. Studies also show that those who get less SWS are more likely to suffer depression. To be clear, the “breastfeeding mothers got an average of 182 minutes of SWS. Women in the control group had an average of 86 minutes. And the exclusively bottle-feeding women had an average of 63 minutes.”

In short, women who do not exclusively breastfeed get less sleep, get less restorative sleep, and are more likely to suffer depression.

Doan and colleagues noted the following.

“Using supplementation as a coping strategy for minimizing sleep loss can actually be detrimental because of its impact on prolactin hormone production and secretion. Maintenance of breastfeeding as well as deep restorative sleep stages may be greatly compromised for new mothers who cope with infant feedings by supplementing in an effort to get more sleep time.
In sum, advising women to avoid nighttime breastfeeding to lessen their risk of depression is not medically sound. In fact, if women follow this advice, it may actually increase their risk of depression.”

Babies that nurse are happier at night

A baby that gets its night time needs met quickly is more likely to get right back to sleep than a baby who has to wait for a bottle while crying and swallowing air.

More sleep for dad

Again, even if he helps with baby burping, nappies, bathing and carrying baby, there are no bottles to deal with. Also, breastfed babies often don’t need winding!

Less equipment to maintain and store

Those bottles, measuring devices, sterilizing equipment and other gadgets take up shelf space and they all require cleaning.

Breastmilk has never been recalled due to manufacturing problems

Formula has been, sometimes after causing injury or death. There were 22 “significant” recalls of formula including 7 potentially life threatening situations.

In 2008, 700 tonnes were recalled in China, when at least 13 infants died and at least 50 more suffered Kidney problems; after formula was found to be contaminated with contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical used in plastic.

No need to worry about which brand is better

Each artificial breast milk formula is different from all its competitors, but none of them come close to duplicating the real thing. Some experts believe there are as many as 100 constituents of breastmilk that cannot be reproduced. It can be very stressful for formula feeding mothers to try to determine which brand is the best of the lot. No matter which formula is used “it is increasingly apparent that infant formula can never duplicate human milk. Human milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, stem cells, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in infant formula.”

No need to worry about adding contaminated water

Even in regions of the world where bacterial contamination is not an issue, water can contain dangerous elements like arsenic, lead, flouride and aluminum. These contaminants can become concentrated if water is boiled to sterilise it before being added to formula.

Non breastfed babies get more stomach infections

According to a study of 17,046 mother and infant pairs in Belarus, breastfed infants had a significant reduction in risk of gastro-intestinal infection

Bottle feeding hinders proper dental and jaw development

Nursing is good for a baby’s tooth and jaw development. Babies drinking from the human breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy to get food than do those drinking from a bottle. Obviously, a nursing baby’s jaws are receiving much more exercise as she pulls her mother’s milk into her mouth. This constant gentle pulling assists the growth of well-formed muscles, jaws and straight, healthy teeth. Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of nursing, the less chance of dental malocclusion.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Milan and published in Archives of Diseases in Childhood of 1033 children, found posterior cross-bite was more frequent in bottle fed children. Children with non-nutritive sucking activity and being bottle fed more than doubled the risk of posterior cross-bite. Not breastfeeding seems to have a negative effect on development of posterior cross-bite in deciduous dentition.

Bryan Palmer DDS has also studied feeding method and oral development extensively. His opinion is that bottles and pacifiers have the potential to changes facial features and can cause all manner of health issues from sleep apnea to long face syndrome.

Bottlefed babies have more tooth decay

Breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Bottle-fed babies “are at increased risk for baby bottle caries, a destructive dental condition which occurs when a baby is put to bed with a bottle containing formula, milk, juice or other fluids high in carbohydrates. Extensive dental repair may be required at a cost of thousands of dollars.”

Breastfeeding reduces the amount of money spent on corrective orthodontia

The longer you breastfeed, the more likely the babies teeth will come in properly. If the teeth come in straight, there’s no need to fix them.

Not breastfeeding increases risks of delayed speech development

Tongue thrust problems often develop among bottle-fed babies as they try to slow down the flow of milk coming from an artificial nipple. This can lead to speech problems later on. “Early weaning may lead to the interruption of proper oral motor development provoking alterations to the posture and strength of the speech organs and harming the functions of chewing, swallowing, breathing, and articulation of speech sounds. The lack of physiological sucking on the breast may interfere in the oral motor development, possibly causing malocclusion, oral respiration and oral motor disorders.”

Not breastfeeding increases the chance of baby getting eczema

A number of studies have indicated that breastfed babies are less likely to develop eczema - an itchy skin rash

Breastfed babies have great skin

You don’t have to refer to the many studies showing that breastfed babies have fewer rashes. Check out the skin of a breastfed baby and see what you think.

Formula fed infants more likely to spiut up and reflux

Breastfed newborns demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux (spit-up) episodes of significantly shorter duration that formula fed newborns

A 1996 study found that 41.8% of cases of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was associated with, and probably caused by, an allergy to cow’s milk. It was concluded that all babies who present with GER should be screened for cow’s milk allergy.

Formula feeding is worse for premature infants

A recent Israeli study confirmed that the more formula milk premature babies receive, the less responsive they are. Infants receiving substantial amounts of breast milk showed better neurobehavioral profiles - in particular motor maturity. “These infants were also more alert during social interactions, and their mothers provided more affectionate touch. In addition to its nutritional value, breast milk may be related to improved maternal mood and interactive behaviors, thereby indirectly contributing to development in premature infants.”

Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis in later life

Although thought to be multifactorial in origin, and without a clearly defined etiology, lack of breastfeeding does appear to be associated with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis.

Non breastfed infants have more chance of inguinal hernia

Breastfeeding is protective against inguinal hernias. For unknown reasons breastfed babies experience significantly fewer of them. Human milk contains gonadotropin releasing hormone, which may affect the development of a baby boy’s testicles.

Non breastfed low birth weight babies display reduced cognitive development

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 mothers choosing not to do so.

Breastfed babies display better social development

The psychomotor and social development of breastfed 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.

Non breastfed infants have increased risk of urinary tract infections

Breastfed babies have fewer urinary tract infections than their bottle fed peers. According to one study, infants who were exclusively bottle fed were more than five times as likely to develop urinary tract infections compared with those that were breastfed

Not breastfeeding delays hand-to-eye coordination

It isn’t completely clear why, but breastfed infants are able to see and manipulate objects quicker than their formula fed counterparts. This is one of the many benefits of breastfeeding that are still being explored.

Breastfeeding protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)

Since many exclusively breastfeeding mothers do not begin to menstruate for a year or longer their iron stores are not depleted by monthly bleeding during this time.

Breastfeeding mothers spend less money on menstrual supplies & nappies

Many breastfeeding mums do not begin to menstruate again until 12 or more months after giving birth. That means for 12 months, many nursing moms don’t have to buy tampons, sanitary napkins, and cramp relief medication! “Multiply this by the four million US births each year to see that over one billion sanitary products annually could be kept out of our nation’s landfills and sewers. To compound the scenario, because breast milk is absorbed by babies more efficiently, breastfed babies excrete less and thus require fewer diaper changes than formula-fed babies.”

Breastfeeding is a self confidence booster for mum

There is nothing more amazing than looking at a plump six month old baby and knowing that the only nutrition this happy little creature has received has come from your own body.

Breast milk may help combat eye infections

There is evidence that breast milk could help ease the symptoms of conjunctivitis, however: in vitro tests show that colostrum, and mature breast milk, can potentially combat some of the bacteria known to cause neonatal eye infections.

Another study provides evidence that it does seem to be an effective treatment for eye infections in young babies. At a hospital in Spain, babies diagnosed with neonatal sticky eye were treated either with antibiotics or breast milk. Babies treated with breast milk generally recovered much faster: 26 out of 45 (57%) of those receiving milk had recovered after 30 days, compared with 3 out of 20 (15%) of those receiving antibiotics.

Not breastfeeding may increase blood pressure in Childhood

A 2004 study of 4763 British children showed that 7.5 years later, those who were not breastfed as infants had higher blood pressure compared with those who were breastfed. In another new study from the U.K., a small but important reduction in adult diastolic blood pressure is associated with having been breastfed as an infant.

No worry about latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula

There is no formula that can duplicate human milk because, as the FDA recognized in a recent statement “…the exact chemical makeup of breast milk is still unknown.” “Formula-fed infants depend on products which can be quite different from each other, but which are continually being found deficient in essential nutrients… These nutrients are then added, usually after damage has occurred in infants or overwhelming market pressure forces the issue.”

Formula makes for BAD nappy changes

The bowel movements of breastfed babies smell mild and inoffensive. The same can not be said about those of formula fed babies. Try changing a few formula fed babies if you are uncertain about wanting to try breastfeeding!

Breastfed babies smell fantastic

No scientific study needed here. There is something almost magical about the scent of your own breastfed baby, whether you’re the mother or father involved. Try it, you’ll like it!

It’s what breasts were designed for!

Not breastfeeding increases risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mother

A study of reproductive and hormonal risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cohort of 121,700 women has found a strong trend for decreasing risk of RA with increasing duration of breast-feeding.
Looking at total lifetime breastfeeding, regardless of the number of children, women women who had breastfed for between 13 and 23 months had a 20% reduction in RA compared with the women who did not breastfeed. Women who had breastfed for at least 24 months - two full years out of their childbearing years - increased their risk reduction to 50%.

Not breastfeeding increases infant’s blood pressure

Researchers at the University of Bristol determined breastfeeding might be as effective at lowering blood pressure as are low-salt diets or increased physical activity,

And the longer a child is breastfed, the greater the benefits for its blood pressure, the researchers said. When it comes to diseases related to high blood pressure, breastfeeding “is of public health importance,” they concluded.

More than 2,000 children between the ages of 9 and 15 from Estonia and Denmark were surveyed. The findings were similar for children in both countries.

Not breastfeeding increases risks of atherosclerosis

Not breastfeeding may be associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis in later life according to a cohort study based on a 65-year follow-up of the Carnegie (Boyd Orr) survey of diet and health in prewar Britain.

Breastfeeding may protect against schizophrenia

Breastfed babies may have a slightly lower risk of later schizophrenia according to the results of a Danish study of 6841 individuals. Maternal schizophrenia was the strongest risk factor but no or early cessation (<2 weeks) of breastfeeding was also significantly related to later schizophrenia.

Not breastfeeding increases risk of gluten intolerance (coeliac disease)

A meta-analysis of six case-controlled studies found a 52% reduction in coeliac disease in babies breastfed at the time of gluten introduction compared with those not breastfed.

The study also revealed longer breastfeeding reduced coeliac disease risk; researchers suggested continued breastfeeding during gluten introduction might limit the amount of gluten the child was exposed to and therefore decrease symptoms.

Not breastfeeding increases mum’s risk of diabetes

The study of more than 157,000 mothers found that for each year a woman breast-fed her baby, she was 15 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes in the next 15 years. It didn’t matter how a woman tallied up the time; feeding one baby for 12 months or two babies for six months each worked equally well.

Breast feeding wards off bed-wetting

Children breast-fed as infants are less likely to wet the bed later on, probably because they have a developmental edge.

There is strong evidence that in many cases bed-wetting can “result from delayed neurodevelopment,” breast-feeding is beneficial because of the role that certain fatty acids passed onto the infant play in brain development.

Not breastfeeding increases hospital admissions

1385 children in Spain were followed during the first year of life. Full breastfeeding, hospital admission and other relevant variables were recorded. After estimating for attributable risk, it was found that 30% of hospital admissions would have been avoided for each additional month of full breastfeeding. It is estimated that 100% of full breastfeeding among 4 month old babies in an industrialised country would avoid 56% of hospital admissions in babies who are younger than 1 year.

Not breastfeeding may increase Autism risks

In a case-control study using data from the Autism Internet Research Survey, an online parental survey conducted from February to April 2005; results were recorded for 861 children with autistic disorder and 123 control children.

Not breastfeeding for six months was significantly associated with an increase in the odds of having autistic disorder. The use of infant formula without docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid supplementation versus exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a significant increase in the odds of autistic disorder when all cases were considered.

Not breastfeeding increases the likelyhood of mental health problems

“Breastfeeding for a longer duration appears to have significant benefits for the onward mental health of the child into adolescence,”

Dr. Wendy H. Oddy of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in West Perth and her colleagues report in The Journal of Pediatrics 2010.

The researchers found children who were breastfed for shorter periods of time had worse behaviour. Differences were seen for internalising behavior, in which negativity is directed inwards, for example depression; and in externalising behaviors, such as aggression.

For each additional month a child was breastfed, behavior improved.

Breastfeeding for six months or longer remained positively associated with the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents after the investigators adjusted for social, economic and psychological factors as well as early life events.

They conclude:

“Interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration could be of long-term benefit for child and adolescent mental health.”

Another study has found that babies that are breastfed for longer than six months have significantly better mental health in childhood. Researchers found growing evidence that bioactive factors in breast milk played an important role in the rapid early brain development that occurs in the first year of life.

Even adjusting for socio-economic status/their education/their happiness and family functioning, children who were breastfed for less than six months compared to six months or longer had a 52% increased risk of a mental health problem at 2 years of age, a 55% increased risk at age 6, at age 8 the increased risk was 61% while at age 10 the increased risk was 37%. The analysis is based on a scientifically recognised checklist of child behaviour that assessed the study children’s behaviour at 2, 6, 8 and 10 years of age.

Researchers concluded that children who were breastfed had particularly lower rates of delinquent, aggressive and anti-social behaviour, and overall were less depressed, anxious or withdrawn.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding

According to the AAP

“Human milk is species-specific, and all substitute feeding preparations differ markedly from it, making human milk uniquely superior for infant feeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short- and long-term outcomes. In addition, human milk-fed premature infants receive significant benefits with respect to host protection and improved developmental outcomes compared with formula-fed premature infants… Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.“

The American Dietetic Association promotes breastfeeding

The ADA also believes that “the bonding that occurs during breastfeeding makes it a special choice.” The ADA actively promotes breastfeeding, stating that:

“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that broad-based efforts are needed to break the barriers to breastfeeding initiation and duration. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and breastfeeding with complementary foods for at least 12 months is the ideal feeding pattern for infants. Increases in initiation and duration are needed to realize the health, nutritional, immunological, psychological, economical, and environmental benefits of breastfeeding.”

Further reading:

The Risks of Not Breastfeeding for Mothers and Infants - Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Fall; 2(4): 222–231 states:

Health outcomes in developed countries differ substantially for mothers and infants who formula feed compared with those who breastfeed. For infants, not being breastfed is associated with an increased incidence of infectious morbidity, including otitis media, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia, as well as elevated risks of childhood obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leukemia, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For mothers, failure to breastfeed is associated with an increased incidence of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, retained gestational weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome.

Suck On This.

REFERENCES

Foremilk/Hindmilk and a lot of confusion!

Charlotte Young

Something that comes up a lot on our breastfeeding forum is the question of foremilk, hindmilk and how to ensure baby gets not too much of the first and enough of the latter. It’s really no surprise parents are confused as often Health Professionals give conflicting advice; ranging from only offer one side to ensure baby obtains hindmilk, through to timing feeds and giving a set amount of time on each side.

So what’s the deal?

Recently in the world of breastfeeding support, there has been a movement to drop the terms “fore” and “hind milk”. Why? Because breasts only make one type of milk and using two names proves confusing to many.

The milk at the start of a feed is lower in fat than the milk nearer the end of a feed – therefore the first was labelled “fore”, the latter “hind”.

Science has since explained how and why.

As the breast fills, the increased volume of milk causes the sticky fat globules to adhere to the walls of the alveoli, and to each other. This means that when letdown occurs and the milk moves down the ducts, that which is expelled first is lower in fat - because it has moved down without large amounts of fat (that’s still stuck higher up).

As this milk is expelled, it allows the fat to become dislodged and then this can also begin moving towards the nipple. Thus the milk gradually becomes fattier as volume within the breast decreases. At the end of a feed when the breast is nearly empty, fat moves freely and levels are at their highest.

So - the fuller the breast, the more lower fat milk will be released, the emptier the breast, the less fat adheres to the side and so milk is fattier earlier into the feed.

Given all of the above – which advice about feeding is best?

The fact is that there is no magical amount of time to spend at the breast as there are too many variables.

We know that whilst most women are capable of producing roughly the same mean amount over 24 hours, the amount held in the “initial store” varies from mum to mum (NOT related to breast size) . Babies also feed at different rates; some will be fast, effective “power feeders”, and others take their time as though savouring every mouthful. Much like adults really, how often at a table is everyone ready for a round at exactly the same time?

So let’s look at how trying to apply the rules often suggested works out.

Take a mum with a pretty typical supply - she puts baby to her breast and he gets a nice hit of thirst quenching lower fat milk. As he feeds the fat levels start to increase and he’s just starting to feel satiated. Suddenly the mum (looking at the clock) realises baby has been feeding for the x minutes she was advised to feed for and swaps him over to the other breast.

Baby is met with more thirst quenching but lower fat milk, which fills up his tummy – but due to the overall lower levels of fat, he’s hungry again half an hour later, possibly windy too!

Baby b in contrast, has quickly and effectively munched his way through mum’s smaller initial store and is ready for another big hit rather than the drip drip he is receiving. He’s had lots of fatty milk from the first breast and so quite enjoys more quenching milk, like a mid meal beverage. He might even go on to empty that one too…

So two babies have responded completely differently to the same course of action.

This time, instead of swapping at x minutes – this mum is concerned about sticking to one breast as advised to ensure baby gets hindmilk. This suits baby a, as this time he gets to finish his feed.

Baby b however is as mentioned, ready for more big guns – but instead is repeatedly coaxed back on to the first breast. Eventually baby gives up and falls asleep or remains unsettled, crying then windy and wants to feed again 30 minutes later.

See why there are no hard and fast rules?

The only way to know how long to feed your baby and on which breast is to watch the baby – they are the ones feeding, and they (believe it or not) know where the milk is at.

When baby is feeding she will let you know she has finished with that side by either falling asleep, or pulling away from the breast. This is likely to take roughly 10-20 minutes. Some babies do it in less and thrive, others slightly longer; but if baby is feeding for much longer ie 40 mins plus and then wants to do the same the other side or naps briefly and lightly before wanting to resume feeding (ie appearing unsatiated) it may be worth seeking support to ensure baby is feeding effectively.

Babies can also pull away from the breast shortly into a feed due to discomfort and one reason for this might be they need to burp! So if baby pulls off after a few minutes of effective feeding - winding before reoffering the same breast can be an idea as sometimes they will then continue happily feeding!

If they had actually finished with that side, when reoffered baby will perhaps feed for a moment or two (or refuse outright) before repeating the sign to let you know they’ve done ie sleeping or pulling away.

You can then offer the other side. Again there are no rules and if you need to run to the shops or drive to a baby group and baby is happy and content; you can always offer the other side when you get there, or when baby lets you know they are ready for more. That’s the convenience and ease of breastfeeding over having to prepare and use something instantly.

Some babies will always have at least some of the second breast, if not all – others will refuse satiated from one – some will have two and some feeds and one at others!

As you get to know your baby you will recognise roughly how long they like to feed, whether they get windy and so on – until which side becomes as instinctive as lifting your top. Each mother and baby combination is unique but following your babies cues ensures you meet the needs of your baby.

Mathematics in the Montessori classroom can be separated into a few major categories: beginning counting, advanced counting, the decimal system, rational numbers (fractions), and the operations of addition, multiplication, subtraction and division. Concepts are presented in a very concrete way so that children 3-6 are not only able to count, but skip count, square numbers and work with numbers in the thousands. Only once the child has a firm foundation in the operations of addition, multiplication, subtraction and division, is memorisation of facts is introduced.

Here is an interesting part of a lecture from Ms. Child concerning math for preschool children —

“You will find in the Children’s House there is a great deal of material for learning Arithmetic. This is in order that the children may acquire a real familiarity with numbers at an age when they have natural interest in sensorial work. And what they learn through the senses at this age is absorbed into the unconscious, it is known perfectly, it is not uncertain and hard to recall as knowledge acquired unwillingly in a later period tends to be.

The fundamental feature of the system of numbers in our civilization is that we count in tens. We have a decimal system. This should be made apparent from the very first. All the early sensorial material for dimensions, the cubes and stairs are in sets of ten. The long stair [red rod] consists of rods 1,2,3, etc. decimetres long, and the tenth is 10 decimetres, or one metre.

When the child has mastered the arrangement of these rods he has a sensorial conscious. First the number rods are given. These rods are identical with the long stair [red rods], except that the different sections of one decimetre are coloured red and blue alternately to draw attention to the significance of these gradually sizes. Now the arrangement of the rods is very easy with these guiding marks, so that the next step can be taken.

The names of the numbers are taught in connection with the appropriate rods. Then the names are taught in connection with the sandpaper figures so that finally the rods can be laid out and the figures placed on them.

Other simple counting exercises are also done with materials such as the spindle box, loose counters and number cards.

All this work perfects the knowledge of the nature of number and the numbers up to ten, but the important thing to notice is that the introductions given with number rods where the units are fixed, so that there is no possibility of confusion. As the units are fixed the child can work them and absorb them into the unconscious, in a way that would not be possible with the moveable counters. With these it is possible to teach the names of the numbers before the child has grasped the abstract conception.

Until a thorough knowledge of the units is achieved the material is limited to ten. In none of these first three exercises is it possible to go beyond ten. This is an important point to avoid confusion.

But once the units are mastered, the next step is the whole decimal system. The non Montessori method that is sometimes followed of studying next the numbers from 10 to 100 is very dull indeed and any interest there may have been is exhausted long before any conception of large numbers can possibly be arrived at.

In fact may people seem terrified at a sum that includes numbers with commas. The idea seems to be “How terribly I suffered with those sums of two or three figures. Certainly so many figures would be such torture I could never survive.” But this is quite a mistake, as the size of the number makes very little difference to the difficulty of the sum. The same nine figures are employed in all the hierarchies so that operating with millions cannot be very different from operating with units.

This simple fact often strikes even adults with surprise, and once it is realized it can help a good deal to give courage. But it should never be necessary to point this out to anyone who ever properly mastered arithmetic.

In fact children seem to be fascinated by thousands and millions and prefer working with large figures if they are introduced early.

In the Montessori method the knowledge of numbers and counting is given with the bead material. The units are single gold beads, the tens are bars of ten gold beads, the hundred, of course, are squares made up of ten 10-based bars, and the thousands cubes made up of ten hundred-squares. There are also hundred chains and thousand chains made up of tens linked together. The child naturally learns the names of the most conspicuous objects first, the hundreds and the thousands, then with the aid of number cards he learns how these figures are written. In all this he never learns a name that has not got a meaning to him, he associates it with a certain quantity of beads.

This may be criticized as clumsy or materialistic but for most people it is necessary step in the achievement of the understanding of numbers.

However late the child may start arithmetic in the ordinary school, he cannot get a clear idea of number from abstraction alone; it is better to give the material to the young child who can work with it patiently and with interest for many years before it is necessary for him to attempt to work sums on paper.

……… And this real value of the material rests more in the difference it makes to the ordinary child.

…..Children are not really interested in blocks and beads for long without the real intellectual interest of associating them with sizes and numbers. For when they have achieved the manual dexterity to build them up securely they want to go on to some new difficulty. And this is the time to give the numbers. We greatly underrate the intelligence of the four or five year old if we think that this learning is too much. If we do this we are also likely to make the opposite mistake later and expect the child of five and half or six to grasp the numbers in a few short lesson with counters. The units may seem obvious to us after years of practice, but they are not so to the child.

If his initiation is hasty and unprepared, he will learn the names off by rote and it may be years before he gets a real conception of the different numbers and their relations to each other. The names tend to be associated with a figure only, and his arithmetic is a succession of verbal formulae connected extremely precariously by counting on the fingers.

Seeing we have a decimal system it seems possible that there is a good precedent for this in pre-history but, whether this is so or not, we cannot avoid the conclusion that, as a matter of fact and experience in conditions today, counting on the fingers is not a success. Counting with the fingers, definably yes, but on the fingers, no.

Now all this finger counting, that lets us down so often and causes so many disappointments when we find that the laboriously achieved answer is wrong, is only necessary for the combinations of the nine units-adding and subtracting the numbers from one to nine. If we know these combinations and know them correctly we need not interrupt our sums to count on the fingers.

If we start with a real conception of the numbers, gained from the use of number rods, that is a great help. We learn from this which pairs of numbers make ten. Then later we can do all kinds of exercises with the small bead bars and the addition board that will teach us may more little additions and subtractions, until finally all the combinations of the nine units are perfectly familiar, as familiar as the linear counting itself, so that it becomes easier and more natural to say at once sixteen and three are nineteen because we have a mental conceptions of six and three, than to embark on the precarious operation of adding 3 (or four!) live fingers to a misty conception of the numerical sixteen in the imagination.

Chat on our starting solids forum

You walk past the supermarket shelves of nappies, dummies, bottles, teats and formula quite happily but somehow at around four months you find yourself glancing at the baby rice and colourful jars and tins. You are not sure if these so called “children’s foods” belong in a separate category along with turkey twizzlers but there seems to be a children’s version of most products and they are hard to avoid. Everyone else is weaning but somehow it doesn’t feel right for you and your baby?

Stop! There is another way. A fantastically instinctive and intuitive approach to weaning has been developed by UNICEF and the world heath organisation WHO

Baby led weaning basically is what it says; you do not even offer solid food until the baby shows signs of internal and external readiness (being able to sit up unaided, tongue thrust movement disappears, gut lining becomes less leaky between during the weeks between four and six months.) This generally happens somewhere around the middle of the babies first year.

At this time at normal family meal times you simply sit the baby up at the table and offer them pieces of the raw or cooked ingredients from your family meal. E.g. cucumber batons, banana chunks, cooked pasta shapes, avocado slices. Until the child’s pincer movement develops further they are unlikely to be able to pick up pieces small enough to choke on and that is pretty much it! Over the time between 6 and 12 months on a very gradual basis they will move from being exclusively breast fed to taking about half of their calories from solid food.

When you consider that almost 350g of cooked carrot contains the same amount of energy as 100g of breast milk it makes those entire big baby / small baby / weight gain arguments look pretty daft!

The key seems to me that you are not “feeding” the child - so throw away those weaning spoons. Just as a breast fed baby has learnt to regulate their food intake for the first six months and you learn to adjust to the idea that you can’t visualise how much milk they are taking this is simply a continuation of trusting your baby.

Missing out the “goo stage” means you also miss out the fiddleyness of introducing one food at a time‚ babies who were videoed for the unicef study seemed to do this naturally.

Weaning is an incredible gradual process on using this approach - A child needs the same amount of calories at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years (as their growth rate slows) it is simply the composition of these calories that is changing.

The “iron issue” is often used to encourage mothers to wean early‚ breast milk is low is iron yes but this iron is easily and readily absorbed by the baby‚ the store built up at birth is usually starting to run low between six and twelve months‚ you can offer iron rich foods from six months but you must trust that the baby that needs them will eat them and the baby that doesn’t won’t!!

Health Visitors in the UK are only just beginning to be schooled in this new approach and it is unlikely to be rolled out until government plans to extend maternity leave are approved. (Just as the government weaning advice was changed in 2004 from four to six months when maternity leave rules were changed before.) Anecdotal evidence suggests most health visitors are ignoring this new advice anyway and still encouraging mothers to wean far to early.

Weaning does seem to be occurring later in the west – some babies born in the sixties were often solids at three weeks, ten weeks seemed popular in the seventies‚ and so on - politics of our attitudes to food aside you could view this as the logical next stage!

1) Just because your four-month-old baby is watching you eat it doesn’t mean they are ready for solids‚ they watch you do everything‚ that is just what four-month-old babies do.

2) Do not be tempted to spoon feed your baby‚ allow them to continue regulating there own food intake just as they have done already‚ a very useful skill and one that may help them avoid eating disorders in adult life.

3) You can introduce a spoon as their manual dexterity improves but it is for them to use it.

4) Present a selection of healthy foods in pieces they can manage‚ let them choose which to eat or explore with their mouths. Do not put foods in their mouths‚ this is where the choking danger comes from.

5) Babies given solids early do not sleep better‚ gram for gram in comparison to breast milk solids are very low in calories so will not “fill them up” contrary to what many people think.

6) Waiting for your baby to be ready means that preparing food is much easier (i.e. no hand blender etc needed) and food allergies are less likely.

7) Baby food manufacturers should no longer be labelling jars and packets with “16 weeks” they have been told by the government to change this to 6 months but are being rather slow to do so.

8) By twelve months a baby eating a variety of nutrious foods will be eating what its body tells it it needs and obtaining about half its daily calories from solids.

The original catalyst for these notes was a woman’s hour interview with Jenni Murray‚ featuring Annabel Karmel and Gill Rapley who conducted the MSC research into Baby led weaning.

Click here to listen to the interview

This led me to attend a fantastic seminar organised by La Leche entitled “Starting Solids” probably the best £2 of our families food budget I have ever spent!!

Chat on our starting solids forum

ALL children possess these characteristics, but spirited children possess them with a depth and range not available to other children. Spirited kids are the super ball in a room full of rubber balls. Other kids bounce three feet off the ground. Every bounce for a spirited child hits the ceiling.

It is difficult to describe what it is like to be the parent of a spirited child. The answer keeps changing; it depends on the day, even the moment. How does one describe the experience of sliding from joy to exasperation in seconds, ten times a day. How does one explain the “sense” at eight in the morning that this will be a good day or a dreadful one.

The good ones couldn’t be better. Profound statements roll from his mouth, much too mature and intellectual for a child of his age. He remembers experiences you have long since forgotten and drags you to the window to watch the raindrops, falling like diamonds from the sky. On the good days being the parent of a spirited child is astounding, dumbfounding, wonderful, funny, interesting, and interspersed with moment of brilliance.

The dreadful days are another story. On those days you’re not sure whether you can face another twenty four hours with him, It’s hard to feel good as a parent when you can’t even get his socks on, when every word you’ve said to him has been a reprimand, when the innocents act of serving up tuna casseroles instead of the expected tacos incites a riot, when you realise you’ve left more public places in a huff with your child in five years than most people do in a lifetime.

On the bad days being the parent of a spirited child is confusing, frustrating, taxing, challenging, and guilt inducing.

The Characteristics

Each spirited child is unique, yet there exists distinct characteristics in which more is very apparent. Not all spirited children will possess all of the following five characteristics, but each will exhibit enough of them to make her stand out in a crowd.

1. Intensity.
The loud, dramatic spirited children are the easiest to spot. They don’t cry, they shriek. They’re noisy when they play, when they laugh, and even when they take a shower.
But quiet, intently observant children may also be spirited. They assess each situation before entering it as though developing a strategy for every move; their intensity is focused inward rather than outward.

No matter where their intensity is focussed, the reactions of a spirited child are always powerful. There is rarely a middle of the road. They never whimper, they wail. They can skip into a room, smiling and laughing only to depart thirty seconds later inflamed. Their tantrums are raw and enduring.

2. Persistence.
If an idea or activity is important to them, spirited children can “lock” right in. They are committed to their task, goal oriented, and unwilling to give up. Getting them to change their minds is a major undertaking. They love to debate and are not afraid to assert themselves.

3. Sensitivity
Keenly aware, spirited kids quickly respond to the slightest noises, smells, lights, textures, or changes in mood. They are easily overwhelmed in crowds by the barrage of sensations. Getting through a shopping centre, fair or family gathering without losing them to a fit of tears is a major achievement. Getting dressed can be torture. A wayward string, or a scratchy texture can render clothes unwearable.
Every sensation and emotion is absorbed by them, including your feelings. They’ll tell you you’re having a rotten day before you realise it yourself and even scream and sulk for you.

4. Perceptiveness.
Send them to their room to get dressed and they’ll never make it. Something along the way- perhaps a commercial on television – will catch their attention as they walk by and they’ll forget about getting dressed. It can take ten minutes to get from the house to the car. They notice everything – the latest oil spill, the white feather in a bird’s next, and the dew in the spider web. They’re often accused of not listening.

5. Adaptability
Spirited children are uncomfortable with change. They hate surprises and do not shift easily from one activity or idea to another. If they’re expecting hot dogs on the grill for supper, heaven forbid if you come home and suggest going out to a restaurant. Even if it is their favourite restaurant, they’ll say, “No, I want hot dogs.”
Adapting to change, any change is tough: ending a game in order to come to lunch, changing clothes for different seasons, getting in and out of the card. All of these activities signal a struggle for slow-to-adapt spirited children.

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WHILE EACH spirited child is unique most are more intense, persistent, sensitive, perceptive and uncomfortable with change. Many, but not all possess four additional “bonus” characteristics: aspects of their personality that can make being their parent even more challenging.
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6. Regularity
Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is a daily puzzlement for parents of spirited kids who are irregular. It seems impossible to get them on to any kind of schedule. An eight-hour night of undisturbed sleep is like a mere memory lingering in your mind from the days before their birth.

7. Energy
Not all spirited kids are climbers and leapers. But they do tend to be busy – taking things apart, exploring, and creating projects – from the time they wake up until they finally fall asleep. Although sometimes viewed as “wild”, their energy is usually focussed and has a purpose.

8. First reaction
A quick withdrawal from anything new is typical of many spirited kids. An unfamiliar Idea, thing, place or person may be met with a vehement no. They need time to warm up before they’re ready to participate.

9. Mood
The world is a serious place for some spirited kids. They’re analytical, picking apart experiences, finding the flaws, and making suggestions for change. Their smiles are few and far between and they may be prone to whining.

If your child possesses any of the “bonus” characteristics, you will need to be even more enterprising. You are not only living with a child who is more, but you’re also faced with the exhaustion of life with a kid who is energetic, needs little sleep, expresses a strong resistance to new situations and things.

ALL children possess these characteristics to a certain degree, but the distinguishing factor for spirited children is more. They are not, however experiencing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children experiencing ADHD, even if they want to, are unable to focus their energy and attention. Spirited kids fall within the range of normal behaviour.

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Chat on our raising your spirited child forum.