Breastfeeding: A Gift of Love

Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides “human milk for human babies” for optimal brain development, immune system protection and digestive compatibility. Research shows that breastfed babies have slightly higher IQ's (intelligence quotients) than babies fed infant formula. They have fewer infections and the onset of allergies is delayed. Breastfed babies may have a decreased risk of obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes. Mothers who breastfeed may have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers and possibly a decreased risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures later in life. Although any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months is associated with greater health benefits.

Pediatricians Recommend Breastfeeding
“The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and many other health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life” as stated in the 2005 AAP Position Statement on Breastfeeding. “Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as an infant's consumption of human milk with no supplementation of any type (no water, no juice, no nonhuman milk, and no foods) except for vitamins, minerals, and medications. Exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to provide improved protection against many diseases and to increase the likelihood of continued breastfeeding for at least the first year of life.” The AAP Pediatric Nutrition Handbook recommends that regardless of when complementary feeding is provided, between 4-6 months, breastfeeding should continue for at least the first 12 months and thereafter, as long as mutually desired.

The AAP position paper on breastfeeding states “healthy infants should be placed and remain in direct skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately after delivery until the first feeding is accomplished. The alert, healthy newborn infant is capable of latching onto a breast without specific assistance within the first hour after birth. This is amazing to know the baby naturally bonds with mother, if allowed to do so. The bonding produced by close contact between mother and baby increases the feelings of love toward her baby, which is the body's natural hormonal response to breastfeeding.

More Reasons to Breastfeed
Mothers also appreciate the convenience of being able to feed the baby without the necessity of bottle washing and preparation, especially in the middle of the night. The tedious process of making up bottles and carrying them around is also eliminated when a mother chooses to breastfeed. The decreased infections for baby means less hospital and doctor sick baby visits and less time off of work for working mothers. Another great benefit is that breastfeeding releases hormones in the mother's body that helps return her uterus back to normal size and returning to her pre-pregnancy weight sooner. We encourage mothers to consider breastfeeding since it provides a continuous food supply for their infant in times of natural disaster when water may be contaminated and formula supplies depleted.

Contraindications to Breastfeeding
However, for those women who are unable to breastfeed for medical reasons including HIV-positive status; drug-abuse or who must take medications that are harmful to breastmilk quality, artificial infant formula is the next best alternative. We always encourage women to check with their physician regarding questions on medical conditions and breastfeeding.

WIC Offers Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program
The Healthy People 2010 National Breastfeeding objective proposes that 75% of women will choose to breastfeed. In the St Lucie County WIC Program, 72.1% of mothers enrolled in October 2009 chose to breastfeed their babies reflecting a continual upward trend. We offer a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program coordinated by a Certified Lactation Consultant to mothers participating in our local WIC program. Trained Peer Counselors contact enrolled prenatal women to offer support and information. They work with mothers who have indicated a desire to breastfeed by offering support and encouragement over the phone following birth. Breastpumps are available for loan to mothers enrolled in WIC who need this option for their lifestyle to continue feeding the baby if separated.

To learn more about our local Peer Counselor Program, you may contact Michelle Hoff, IBCLC at (772)873-4891 and leave a message on her voice mail. WIC is an equal opportunity provider.

For more information on Breastfeeding, go to

www.lalecheleague.org
Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Mother's Support Group Flyer (155kb pdf)