More Awesome reasons to BF!!!

[Kaybean]

"We've known for years that the death rates in Third World countries are lower among breast-fed babies," says Lawrence. "Breast-fed babies are healthier and have fewer infections than formula-fed babies."

About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well.

Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. No babies are allergic to their mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself.

Sucking at the breast promotes good jaw development as well. It's harder work to get milk out of a breast than a bottle, and the exercise strengthens the jaws and encourages the growth of straight, healthy teeth. The baby at the breast also can control the flow of milk by sucking and stopping. With a bottle, the baby must constantly suck or react to the pressure of the nipple placed in the mouth.

Nursing may have psychological benefits for the infant as well, creating an early attachment between mother and child. At birth, infants see only 12 to 15 inches, the distance between a nursing baby and its mother's face. Studies have found that infants as young as 1 week prefer the smell of their own mother's milk. When nursing pads soaked with breast milk are placed in their cribs, they turn their faces toward the one that smells familiar.

Parents of bottle-fed babies may be tempted to prop bottles in the baby's mouth, with no human contact during feeding. But a nursing mother must cuddle her infant closely many times during the day. Nursing becomes more than a way to feed a baby; it's a source of warmth and comfort

Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when an infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even though the mother won't be producing milk yet, her breasts contain colostrum, a thin fluid that contains antibodies to disease.

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html

One of the amazing things about breast milk is that your milk is specially formulated to have the right composition for your baby, and to contain exactly the right amounts of nutrients. Bottle-fed babies receive the exact same nutrients every time they eat. Breast milk, on the other hand, continually changes in composition so that your baby gets what he or she needs at any age.

An important consideration for breastfeeding mothers is the length of time your baby spends nursing on each breast. A baby receives thinner breast milk known as foremilk (with a lower fat content) at the beginning of a feeding, and thicker milk (with a higher fat content) after he has been nursing for several minutes. This thicker milk is called hindmilk. Allowing the baby to completely empty the breast ensures that he gets an adequate amount of hindmilk. Hindmilk has a sleep-inducing effect, resulting in the relaxed look your baby may have at the end of a meal.

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/Comparing-Formula-and-Breast-Milk.id-2487.html

 Recent well-controlled studies have consistently shown that infants who were never breast-fed were two or three times more likely to die of SIDS than their breast-fed counterparts. Because of its high content of immunoglobulins and other antibacterial agents, breast milk has also been shown to have protective effects against illnesses such as rotavirus infections, ear infections, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. It is not clear why breast-feeding is protective against SIDS. Gordon et al have speculated that the protective effect of breast milk could in part be attributable to the binding effects of IgA on bacterial toxins, such as staphylococcal enterotoxin C and Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin A, implicated in some cases of SIDS. Because breast-fed infants are usually healthier than their bottle-fed counterparts, they also tend to be resistant to whatever causes SIDS. Another possible explanation could be that, because of its richness in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients, breast milk enhances faster development of the central nervous system of the infants. Also, the frequent tactile stimulation of breast-feeding during the night may actually protect against SIDS.

http://www.ecologos.org/sids.htm

[mrssundin]

Oct. 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM

this is my first time getting to breastfeed.  all of my other kids were alleric to the protien in my breastmilk so i am way excited to get to do this for the first time.

[edwinasmom]

Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:22 AM

Great post, thanks for the info!