Study: Breast-feeding would save lives, money

[mamaofonetrying42]

http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_med_breast_feeding_savings.html

CHICAGO - The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90 percent of U.S. women fed their babies breast milk only for the first six months of life, a cost analysis says.



Those startling results, published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics, are only an estimate. But several experts who reviewed the analysis said the methods and conclusions seem sound.

"The health care system has got to be aware that breast-feeding makes a profound difference," said Dr. Ruth Lawrence, who heads the American Academy of Pediatrics' breast-feeding section.

The findings suggest that there are hundreds of deaths and many more costly illnesses each year from health problems that breast-feeding may help prevent. These include stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and even childhood leukemia.

The magnitude of health benefits linked to breast-feeding is vastly underappreciated, said lead author Dr. Melissa Bartick, an internist and instructor at Harvard Medical School. Breast-feeding is sometimes considered a lifestyle choice, but Bartick calls it a public health issue.

Among the benefits: Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight infections; it also can affect insulin levels in the blood, which may make breast-fed babies less likely to develop diabetes and obesity.

The analysis studied the prevalence of 10 common childhood illnesses, costs of treating those diseases, including hospitalization, and the level of disease protection other studies have linked with breast-feeding.

The $13 billion in estimated losses due to the low breast-feeding rate includes an economists' calculation partly based on lost potential lifetime wages — $10.56 million per death.

The methods were similar to a widely cited 2001 government report that said $3.6 billion could be saved each year if 50 percent of mothers breast-fed their babies for six months. Medical costs have climbed since then and breast-feeding rates have increased only slightly.

About 43 percent of U.S. mothers do at least some breast-feeding for six months, but only 12 percent follow government guidelines recommending that babies receive only breast milk for six months.

Dr. Larry Gray, a University of Chicago pediatrician, called the analysis compelling and said it's reasonable to strive for 90 percent compliance.

But he also said mothers who don't breast-feed for six months shouldn't be blamed or made to feel guilty, because their jobs and other demands often make it impossible to do so.

"We'd all love as pediatricians to be able to carry this information into the boardrooms by saying we all gain by small changes at the workplace" that encourage breast-feeding, Gray said.

Bartick said there are some encouraging signs. The government's new health care overhaul requires large employers to provide private places for working mothers to pump breast milk. And under a provision enacted April 1 by the Joint Commission, a hospital accrediting agency, hospitals may be evaluated on their efforts to ensure that newborns are fed only breast milk before they're sent home.

The pediatrics academy says babies should be given a chance to start breast-feeding immediately after birth. Bartick said that often doesn't happen, and at many hospitals newborns are offered formula even when their mothers intend to breast-feed.

"Hospital practices need to change to be more in line with evidence-based care," Bartick said. "We really shouldn't be blaming mothers for this."

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On the Net:

American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

Government: http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/

[mal3388]

I think breasting feeding your children is one of the best things you can do for them when there a baby. I personally breastfeed both of my children until they were 11 months and then just switch to regular whole milk. My kids did not get sick at all for the first year and it helped me lose weight after them, and its just a very good bonding experience with your child. But I know its very hard for some women to produce milk so I cant say I am against formula by any means. With my son I stayed home with him so he didnt use a bottle at all but with my daughter I went back to work and bought a medela pump btw the best pump everrr I recommend it to anyone. Yes its like 280 bucks but compared to how much you would spend on formula its nothing.

But even women chose not to breastfeed they should always hold there child when there feeding them. Your baby needs that nuturing and bond and skin to skin contact with there mothers its very important. I hate it when I see mothers prop the bottle I think thats one of the worst things to do.

[julianovak]

im alllll for the BF. My first was BF til 5 months. Unfortunatly she was a bad eater and my AF came earlier  and with each AF that came my milk would disappear......... so thats when i realized its going to be better for her and me to go to formula. I was full of guilt but there was nothing i could do. With my next child we are BF til he/she gives it up. And ill pump in between feedings to make sure i have more then enuf!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I'm ALL for breastfeeding.  But I'm not against formula feeding at all.  It's weird, my oldest was strictly formula fed, she was small at birth due to IUGR and she is the healthiest one in my family...RARELY gets sick and when she does it's more like a sniffle and occasionaly cough.  My yuongest three who were all atleast partially breastfed until 4-5 months all have allergy related asthma, get sick fairly frequently during certain times of the year.  

I have tried desperately to solely breastfeed my last three but with milk production issues, an inverted nipple plus large nipples and latch problems due to my kids all have MASSIVE underbites when they are born...the odds are always stacked against me. I was able to give my last one strictly breastmilk for the most part of 4 months but I had to pump and bottle feed..maybe this time around will go better for me!!!

[waitn838]

i did not breastfeed my son and he has asthma...i regret not breastfeeding him...he also had RSV and pnemonia at 5 weeks old and amazingly beat the odds and survived...last winter he had pnenomia 2x....it breaks my heart every time i hear him wheeznig and that is why i decided to breastfeed this baby

i am planning on breastfeeding for 6 months...is that sufficient time? i have to sign up to take classes so that i can become educated about breastfeeding before the baby comes but havent had time yet

thanks for sharing the article

[JoyRenee]

Two thumbs up! Regardless of what a mother chooses this is all so true and so important. I've been on both sides of the fence; first 2 were predominately formula fed whereas I am still breastfeeding my 5 month old. Thankfully all of my children are healthy. It is hard not to have Mommy Guilt for not breastfeeding the first two longer than 1-2 months but I think the point is to at least try.

[tiredbuthappy]

Thanks for sharing on a pregnancy forum =)

While breastfeeding is not for everyone, I do feel that all pregnant mothers should be made aware of the benefits before making their decision.