Breastfeeding effects to the

Mother and Child

References:
• Pillitteri, A. (2007). Maternal & Child Health Nursing: Care of the
Childbearing & Childrearing Family. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins.
• (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
[ACOG], 2007).
• Cordeiro, B. (2014, October). Breastfeeding lowers your breast cancer
risk. Retrieved from
https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-
health/breastfeeding-breast-cancer-prevention.h19-1589046.html
Definition of Breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young
child with breast milk directly from female human
breasts (i.e., via lactation) not from a baby bottle or
container.
Breastfeeding
• It is universally agreed that breast milk is the preferred method
of feeding a newborn, because it provides numerous health
benefits to both a mother and an infant; it remains the
ideal nutritional source for infants through the first year of
life (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
[ACOG], 2007).
Effects/Advantages of Breastfeeding to the
Mother
A woman gains several physiologic benefits from breastfeeding:
• Breastfeeding may serve a protective function in preventing breast cancer because Most
women who breastfeed experience hormonal changes during lactation that delay their
menstrual periods. This reduces a woman’s lifetime exposure to hormones like estrogen,
which can promote breast cancer cell growth.
• The release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland aids in uterine involution.
• Successful breastfeeding can have an empowering effect, because it is a skill only a
woman can master.
• Breastfeeding reduces the cost of feeding and preparation time.
• Breastfeeding provides an excellent opportunity to enhance a true symbiotic bond
between mother and child.
Belief of Mothers towards Breastfeeding
• Some women believe that breastfeeding, because it causes a
delay in menstruation (lactational amenorrhea), is a foolproof
contraceptive technique.
• Some women believe that breastfeeding will help them lose weight
gained during pregnancy. This also is not true, and women who are
breastfeeding need to concentrate on eating a well-balanced diet to
ensure their milk will be rich in nutrients.
• Some women are reluctant to breastfeed because they fear that
having to be available to feed the baby every 3 or 4 hours will tie
them down.
Effects of Breastfeeding to the Infant
• Breast milk contains secretory immunoglobulin A
(IgA), which binds large molecules of foreign proteins, including
viruses and bacteria, keeping them from being absorbed
from the gastrointestinal tract into the infant.
• Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein in breast milk that interferes
with the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
• The enzyme lysozyme in breast milk actively destroys bacteria
possibly increasing the effectiveness of antibodies.
Effects of Breastfeeding to the Infant
• The presence of L. bifidus or Lactobacillus bifidus in breast milk
interferes
with the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal
tract, reducing the incidence of diarrhea.
• Breast milk contains the ideal electrolyte and mineral composition for
human infant growth.
• high in lactose, an easily digested sugar that provides ready glucose
for rapid brain growth.
• protein in breast milk is easily digested, and the ratio of cysteine to
methionine (two amino acids) in breast milk favors rapid brain
growth in the early months.
• Contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid for skin integrity, and less
sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus than do many formulas.
Effects of Breastfeeding to the Infant
• It contains nitrogen in compounds other than protein, so that an
infant can receive cell-building materials from sources other than just
protein.
• Yet another advantage is that breastfed newborns appear to be able
to regulate their calcium/phosphorus levels better than infants who
are formula fed.
• Breastfeeding is the best preparation for forming common speech
sounds