U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mentioned the possible advantageous outcomes associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Prominently, health benefits for the infant and the mother serve as leading objective in breastfeeding argument. Although the correlations can be negligible, biomedical researchers consistently found that breast milk decreases gastrointestinal illness because of protective antibiotics that are passed from mother to infant. At the same time, exclusive breastfeeding not only lowers the chances of infections appeared in childhood such as diarrhea and ear infections, but also chronic diseases such as childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and asthma. An equally significant aspect of breastfeeding benefits is the psychological effect on mothers. Since breastfeeding initiates a strong connection with the child, mothers often do not experience postpartum depression compared to mothers who breastfeed for a short period of time or who do not breastfeed at all. …show more content…
Evidently, not all biomedical researchers support breastfeeding, since researchers have found that HIV, alcohol, drugs and environmental toxins can be passed on from mother to child through breastfeeding.
I believe that spreading the idea of “doing what you think is the the best for the child” should replace the popular idea of “breast is best”. Mothers who cannot breastfeed due to serious limitations should seek public and medical support to understand that correlations that support breastfeeding do not mean natural milk will cause better health or higher IQ than formula milk.
The term of “Intensive Mothering” should not be applied to infancy stage because insufficient care and nurturing will have harmful and sometimes irreversible outcomes. Therefore, breastfeeding does not stem from intensive mothering because I believe newborn children should come first since it has no disadvantages in that particular
Very few experts disagree with the fact that breastfeeding is the optimal choice for the infant. However, decreasing breastfeeding rates raise many questions as to why mothers are not choosing the best nutritional choice for their children. Despite breast milk being the obvious choice for infant feeding due to the health, psychological, and economic benefits, many mothers still decide to feed their infants formula due to lack of knowledge and support, difficulties with breastfeeding, and social embarrassment. Changes need to be made with formula companies, medical professionals, and the public opinion of breastfeeding in order to give nursing mothers the support they deserve.
Breast-feeding is nutritionally, emotionally and physically superior for a mother and her child. “Human breast milk is not standard nor is it interchangeable with cow’s milk. It is a dynamic fluid that changes in composition to meet the needs of the baby as it grows” (“Giving your Baby... Diet.” par. #10). Breast milk contains growth factors and antibodies which stimulate the growing baby and protect it from illness such as diarrhea, ear infections, rashes, allergies, asthma, skin problems, pneumonia, respiratory illness and other serious illnesses. Breast-feeding also improves a baby’s chance of remaining healthy. These antibodies are not found in formula. They can not be sustained. Breast-fed babies are also neurodevelopmentally more
Breastfeeding is one of the best methods for providing infants with a healthy start to life. Breast milk helps the body fight off various bacteria and viruses that one’s child might be at risk for catching. Breastfed babies are thirty-six percent less likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome and are fifty-five percent likely to become obese later in life, compared to babies who are not breastfeed. (Workplace and Public Accommodations for Nursing Mothers, 2016) Not only is the child benefiting from breastfeeding, the mother is as well. Women who breastfeed are more likely to revert to their
It is hard to understand the social and medical impact of breastfeeding; however it raises IQ by up to ten points and it decreases chances of cancers and obesity later in life that has the potential to save billions of dollars in health care. It is better and makes more sense to focus on the larger issues that needs attention and public outcry than to waste money, resources, newspaper and media time and legislative actions on the issue of breastfeeding in
Breastfeeding is extremely beneficial to both mother and baby and the environment as well. Breastfed children are less likely to have ear infections, allergies, vomiting, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, chronic digestive disease, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, bacterial meningitis, research also indicates that breastfeeding may help protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), women who were breastfed as infants have a lower rate of breast cancer, and
Breastfeeding protects babies against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as sepsis in pre-term babies. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight off infections like otitis media and respiratory problems like meningitis and bronchitis. It has been found to reduce the incidence and intensity of atopic diseases. Babies who breastfeed tend to suffer from colds less frequently and have fewer incidents of colic. (Davis)
When females become mothers, it is optional if she wants to breastfeed or not. Yes it is better to breastfeed and also it’s healthy for the child, and the mother. The issue today, Is Breastfeeding Inevitably Best for Healthy Development? I agree with Julie E. Artis, that the broad promotion of breastfeeding has the potential to unfairly stigmatize women who do not breastfeed while overstating the benefit. Reasons why I agree with Julie E. Artis because mothers should not be stigmatize, because they chose to not to breastfeed. I feel as though, not all mothers are not comfortable with breastfeeding, or are not able to breastfeed, so mothers will prefer not to breastfeed. Julie E. Artis had a few statements about; mother should breastfeed at their own risk. I agree with her with this statement, because mothers might have health problems, culture and ethnicity values, and also conformability which play a factor as well. Breastfeeding is best or breast is best for short, that what the U.S Department of Health and Human Services from the Surgeon say’s, but it is also good for mothers to breastfeed at their own risk, because mothers are making a choice that works for them and their infant.
Thesis: Breastfeeding provides unique nutrients for the baby, protects from disease, has health benefits for the mother, and provides a unique bond between mother and baby.
In December 1997 the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its most aggressive statement to due urging mothers to breastfeed for at least a year and beyond “for as long as mutually desired.” Mother’s milk alone provides all the nutrients necessary for a baby’s physical and mental development for at least at least six months, with the added benefit of natural immunity against numerous diseases. In Milk, Money and Madness: The Culture and Politics of Breastfeeding, Naomi Baumslag, MD, MPD, asserts that “breastfed babies also have lower incidence of allergies, urinary tract infections, obesity, learning, behavioral and psychological problems, later-life heart disease, pneumonia, neonatal sepis, and giardia
Breast feeding has been associated with the neurodevelopment of an infant. According to Stuebe and Schwarz (2011), studies shown that breast-fed and formula fed-infants produced evidence of developmental differences. For example, infants who didn’t exclusively breast feed until 6 months of age crawled later and were less like to walk than the infants were exclusively breast-fed. Also, formula fed-infants had IQ scores that were 7.5 points lower when they were at age 6.5. From this study, only basic information is such as walking and IQ score shown at a grade school age is seen it is hard not to see what the picture would be life if the trend of a slower neurodevelopment continues into the later years of a child. A child who will be lacking in this department can hinder growth in many areas such as motor skills. Showing a decline in IQ scores can also delay a child in succeeding academically future in life. These two factors alone can affect other areas of life. Knowing these facts as a parent would be beneficial. As parents, you would want the best for your child and want to give them the best opportunity possible. The missing link between breast milk and formula milk is long-chain poly unsaturated fatty acids which is said to
There is a wide array of benefits as a result of breastfeeding that specifically help a child survive and develop from the time they are born and throughout all stages of life. The more recognized and examined benefits during infancy and toddlerhood include, but are not limited to, increased intelligence, decreased risk of getting ear infections, lowered risk of Sudden Infant Death syndrome, better resistance to common illnesses and allergies (stronger immune system), lower risk for childhood onset diabetes, lower risk for asthma and eczema, increased cognitive development, higher IQ, and increased social maturity.
What a lot of people and families don't know, is that breastfeeding actually has benefits for the baby.
Nutritionally, breastfeeding provides specific antibodies which help to prevent infant and childhood diseases. Diseases such as RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection) and Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus are serious diseases in infants which can lead to death (Riordan 1997). Breastfeeding is a natural immunization for infants and mothers, decreasing risks such as pneumonia, SIDS, and childhood obesity in infants. Mothers decrease their risk for breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and weight gain (Stuebe 2009). Just as diseases can be immune from breast milk, breastmilk also aids in brain development. In “Breastfeeding benefits babies’ brains”, Stacey states, “babies who had
Researched Evidence that Identifies Benefits of Breastfeeding to the Child, the Mother, and the Entire Family
“Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers” Statement taken from the world health organization publication on the nutrition of exclusive breastfeeding.