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RUNNING HEAD: THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

The Benefits of Breastfeeding


Emily Handwerk
Ohio University

THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

Abstract
A stronger immune system. A stronger bond between a mother and her baby. Bone
remineralization for the mother. These are all benefits that women and their babies
receive from breastfeeding. However, breastfeeding can also have a bit of a dangerous
side, as well as a number of social barriers for some women. For example, it can result in
transmission of HIV and other diseases, as well as that of chemicals and medicines.
Although breastfeeding has some harmful disadvantages, they are far outweighed by its
multitude of advantages, including health benefits for both the mother and the baby, so all
mothers should practice this generally healthy habit. A very important substance, breast
milk has the ability to impact many different aspects of life.

THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

One major advantage of breastfeeding is the health benefits received by both the
mother and the baby as a result of this practice. For infants, human breast milk
provides an abundance of nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, essential fatty
acids, vitamins, and minerals. According to the American Dietetic Association, breast
milk contains the appropriate balance of nutrients provided in easily digestible and
bioavailable forms(Dobson). The ADA then goes on to say that this complex
nutritional profile decreases the risk for a large number of acute and chronic
diseases as well as a number of other diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases
and diarrhea, bacterial meningitis, childhood obesity, and childhood leukemia
(Dobson). Supporting this idea is a study done by MS Kramer from the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition and colleagues on effects of growth and health of infants
who were breastfed for 3 months as opposed to those who were breastfed for 6
months. In this study, the authors concluded that growth and weight gain were the
same in both groups, however there was a significant reduction in the incidence of
gastrointestinal infection during the period from 3 to 6 months in the 6-month
group(Kramer). This lower risk of gastrointestinal infection is due to the ability of
the nutrients in human breast milk to strengthen the immune systems of infants.
Another interesting health benefit that breastfeeding offers infants is prevention of
obesity. According to an article found in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health,
studies have shown that being overweight at 12 months [is] related to feeding
method and that breastfed babies tend to weigh less (Binns). While this is a growing
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

area of interest, perhaps the fact that breast milk has a more complex nutritional
profile than baby formula could be the reason for the results of these studies. While
there are many benefits of breastfeeding for infants, there are also many for mothers.
According to the American Dietetic Association, breastfeeding can cause decreased
risks for ovarian and premenopausal breast cancers, decreased risk of type 2
diabetes, and increased weight loss and fat loss among many other things
(Dobson). Many mothers have trouble with getting their baby weight off after giving
birth, so this is probably a little known benefit of breastfeeding that many would
really enjoy.
Not only does breastfeeding benefit the mother and the baby, but it also benefits
the family, society, and economy. According to Jon Weimer of the USDA, the
economy could benefit from women breastfeeding their infants because a minimum
of $3.6 billion would be saved if the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding
increased(Weimer). This is due, in part, to the costs of baby formula. However, as
Weimer points out, it is also due to treatment of three childhood diseases, including
otitis media, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis(Weimer). Otitis media is
an infection of the middle ear, gastroenteritis is a stomach virus that causes symptoms
like diarrhea and vomiting, and necrotizing enterocolitis is a condition that is
common among premature infants in which parts of their bowels undergo tissue
death. These are all diseases that the nutrients in breast milk can protect infants from
by strengthening the immune system and replenishing the bodys nutrients. These
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

economic benefits of breastfeeding also go hand-in-hand with those of the family and
society. The American Dietetic Association states that breastfeeding saves the familys
disposable income for food for older children and adults(Dobson). The ADA also says
that breastfeeding can help families save on healthcare-related expenses and can reduce
income lost from staying home with a sick child. These are, once again, effects of breast
milks nutrients on infants immune systems.
While breastfeeding does offer a variety of benefits, there are some disadvantages.
These include transmission of disease, drugs, and chemicals in the breast milk, and
sometimes, even the risk of neonatal death. Many studies have shown that in some cases,
breastfeeding can transmit diseases like HIV and staphylococcus aureus from mothers to
their babies. One of these studies was conducted by Dr. Jennifer Read and the Committee
on Pediatric AIDS. Read and her colleagues found through their study that higher rates
of HIV-1 infection among breastfed children compared with formula-fed children were
reported in a majority of other studies of which they researched (Read). In these cases,
Read and her colleagues say that complete avoidance of breastfeeding by HIV-1
infected women remains the only means by which prevention of breastfeeding
transmission of HIV-1 can be absolutely ensured(Read). While HIV is a very serious
condition, it is not the only diseases that can be transmitted through breastfeeding. In a
study done by a group of scientists from the Journal of Human Lactation, transmission of
staphylococcus aureus between healthy mothers and their infants via breastfeeding was
investigated. Staphylococcus
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

aureus is a type of bacteria that is found in the respiratory tract and on the skin of
humans. This bacterium is a common cause of skin infections, respiratory diseases, and
food poisoning, and about 20% of humans are long term-carriers of it. The authors found
that there was a 50% transmission rate between [mothers and their babies](Kawada).
Besides diseases, drugs and other chemicals can also be transmitted from mothers to their
babies through breastfeeding. According to an article by the Committee on Drugs,
prescription drugs, nicotine, and other chemicals can all be transmitted through
breastfeeding, and some can even affect neurotransmitter function in the developing
central nervous system of the baby (Kaufmann). An additional disadvantage of
breastfeeding is that in some cases, it can result in an increase in neonatal death. A study
done by Karen Edmond and colleagues showed that later initiation of breastfeeding can
result in an increased risk of neonatal mortality and, in turn 16% of neonatal deaths
could be saved if all infants were breastfed from day 1 and 22% if breastfeeding started
within the first hour(Edmond). These disadvantages of breastfeeding are all harmful,
however they are rare and some only happen in poorer countries.
Another negative aspect of breastfeeding are the social barriers faced by many
mothers. According to the American Dietetic Association, majority of mothers initiate
breastfeeding, but less than one third continue to breastfeed at 6 months(Dobson). The
ADA also states that breastfeeding rates in the U.S. are lower than in most nations, and
that globally, about 79% of infants are breastfed for 12

THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

months compared with 17% to 20% in the United States(Dobson). This results from a
number of different barriers, including embarrassment and societal disapproval,
discomfort about breastfeeding in public, lack of support from partner and family
members, and inadequate knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding(Dobson). This
shows the impact that family and society have on women who are breastfeeding, and that
there is a large deficit in the knowledge of breastfeeding and the benefits it offers.
However, as a dietitian, there are many ways that I will be able to support and promote
breastfeeding so that more women will practice it. Some major actions I could take to
support and promote breastfeeding would be to counsel and educate post-partum and
prenatal women and get their families and friends involved. When counseling postpartum and prenatal women, I could provide women with practical information about
breastfeeding, target women who are less likely to breastfeed, and encourage women
who are returning to the workplace to explore their options for continuing to
breastfeed(Dobson). Providing these women with information on the health benefits of
breastfeeding, as well as some encouragement, guidance, and a few tips and pointers
could really help them to want to breastfeed and feel comfortable doing so. In involving
the family and friends, I would be establishing a key support system for these expectant
mothers, which is very important when initiating and continuing breastfeeding.
According to James Dobsons article from the ADA, including the womens partners and
mothers in the counseling sessions is key because support from a womans partner and
her mother significantly increases her chances of breastfeeding and continuing to
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

breastfeed(Dobson). Overall, it is crucial for women to have support from their families
and friends when breastfeeding because it will help them to feel more comfortable doing
so.
Overall, breastfeeding, like many practices, has its advantages and disadvantages.
However, I feel that the multitude of benefits breastfeeding has to offer mothers and
babies, families, society, and the economy far outweigh the rare disadvantages. I know
that there are barriers to breastfeeding, but this is a practice that I, as a dietitian, will
support and promote. Unless my clients are carriers of a disease such as HIV, I will
encourage them to practice this healthy habit, and maybe if other dietitians do the same,
we can increase the levels of breastfeeding in the U.S. to the same levels as most other
countries around the world. In my opinion, breast milk is such powerful substance. It has
the ability to improve the health of both mothers and infants, but it can also help families
save money and it can help the economy as well. It is so important for not just mothers
and babies, but for many others as well. As, Ive pointed out, breast milk has some major
benefits for the economy, society, and families too. This is such a wide range of benefits
that is rarely seen in other things in our world. If more people had a deeper knowledge
and understanding of all of these wonderful benefits of breastfeeding, than maybe it could
garner more support from all of the people that it effects, and as a result, more women
would do it and allow themselves, their babies, their society, and their family to
experience these benefits for themselves. Dietitians, physicians, and lactation consultants
at hospitals could all help this to happen, as they are the primary source of information on
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

this subject for expectant mothers and their families. The nutritional profile of breast milk
has so much to offer infants, and it is something you really cannot get anywhere else.
Breast milk is a truly unique substance, and the benefits it reaps on infants and mothers,
as well as all aspects of life in general, are priceless.

THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

Works Cited
Binns, C., Lee, M., & Oddy, W. (2003). Breastfeeding and the Prevention of Obesity.
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 15, 22-26.
Dobson., & James. (2005). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Promoting
and Supporting Breastfeeding. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105(5),
810-818.
Edmond, K. M. (2006). Delayed Breastfeeding Initiation Increases Risk of Neonatal
Mortality. Pediatrics, 117(3), e380-e386.
Kaufmann, R. (1994). The Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals into Human Milk.
American Journal of Pediatrics, 93, 137.
Kawada, M. (2003). Transmission of Staphylococcus Aureus Between Healthy,
Lactating Mothers and their Infants by Breastfeeding. Journal of Human Lactation,
19(4), 411-417.
Kramer, M. S., Shishko, G., Sevkovskaya, Z., Platt, R. W., Guo, T., Bogdanovich, N.,
et al. (2004). Infant Growth and Health Outcomes Associated With 3 Compared With 6
Months of Exclusive Breastfeeding. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 59(1), 27-29.
Read, J. S. (2003). Human Milk, Breastfeeding, and Transmission of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in the United States. American Journal of Pediatrics,
112(5), 1196-1205.
Weimer, J. (n.d.). The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding: A Review and Analysis.
AgEcon Search. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/

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