Main Points According to the American Dietetic Association, “exclusive breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition and health protection for the first 6 months of life and breastfeeding with complementary foods from 6 months until at least 12 months of age is the ideal feeding pattern for infants.”1 Breastfeeding has many benefits to mother and baby.1 Infant and children mobility and mortality are greatly improved due to the promotion of breastfeeding as an important health strategy.1 The promotion of breastfeeding as a health strategy also works to improve maternal mortalities and reduce overall healthcare costs.1 Breastfeeding for the duration of the first year significantly improves an infant’s overall health and chances of survival.1 …show more content…
erall school performance.1 Babies that breastfeed also have a lower risk for developing allergies and intollerances.1
The optimal nutrition breast milk offers is what contributes to the many benefits to baby.1 Breast milk is the ideal source to provide optimum nutrition for babies and it is able to transform its composition to meet a babies growing and changing nutritional needs.1 In the first few days of babies life, nutrient dense colostrum is produced to meet and infants nutrition needs and fit proportionally to their stomachs that are the size of a marble.1 Mature milk then comes in and offers nutrient dense and exceptionally bioavailable nutrients to baby that is easily digested.1 The nutrients in breast milk are ideally suited to meet a babies nutritional needs, for example a babies kidneys are relatively immature and the fairly low protein content of breast milk does not allow for an overload of nitrogen a babies kidneys.1 Breastfed babies do not need any additional fluids and the relatively low sodium levels allow for an infants hydration needs to be met while keeping the renal solute load low.1 Breast milk contains highly absorbable and balanced nutrients, the 2:1 ration of calcium to phosphate in breast milk allows for provide the optimum calcium absorbtion.1 Breast milk has optimum nutrient composition and is the ideal source of nutrition for babies for the first 6 months exclusively and with complementary food to or past 1 years of age.1 Mothers also benefit
Studies have shown that breastfeeding has numerous benefits for mother and baby, including reducing the risk of common childhood infection such as ear, respiratory and urinary tract infections in infants. The protective antibodies found in breast milk helps to combat common infections that often leads to missed days at work and translates into lost productivity. In addition, breastfeeding has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of obesity in breastfed children verse children that were not breastfed. Breastfeeding also helps to reduce the risk of certain types of cancers and osteoporosis in women that breastfeed. The current recommendation from the American Academy of
Studies have shown that breastfeeding has numerous benefits for mother and baby, including reducing the risk of common childhood infections. The protective antibodies found in breast milk helps to combat common infections that often leads to missed days from work and translates into lost productivity. In addition, breastfeeding has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of obesity in breastfed children verse children that were not breastfed. Breastfeeding also helps to
Breast milk provides all the necessary proteins, vitamins, sugar and fats essential for an infant’s growth
Since the beginning of time women have breast fed their infants. Although modern science has developed infant formula, doctors and nurses still recommend women feed their infants breast milk. Breastfeeding increases bonding time between mother and baby and decreases cancer in women. It is hypothesized that breast milk significantly improves babies health and cognitive functioning. Breast feeding is frequently researched and there are multiple sources that cite its benefits.
It is shown that the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the less likely they are to develop these health issues (Godfrey, Lawrence 1598).
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)
health throughout life” (Klag, McNamara, Geraghty, & Keim, 2015, p. 1059) Although the process has been known to bring some complications and many attempts, the end result has been proven to be beneficial to not only the infant during that time but can be tracked in their life down the line. The decision to breast feed is a decision that will not only impact the child, but can also
Infant nutrition is vital for growth and development. According to a Web page posted by KidsHealth, “Breast milk contains antibodies, lactose, protein, and fat…,” which are
Globally, less than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed. Breast milk not only has disease fighting substances to protect your baby from illnesses, but it also is pack full of all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life, and to continue for as long as the mother and baby are willing and able. Breastfeeding is not only beneficial to your baby, but also yourself. Breastfeeding is by far the best feeding option for your baby.
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.
This paper will explain the benefits of breastfeeding and how it plays an extreme role in the long-term health of a child not only in the early stages of life but also into adulthood and how we as nurses can help promote this mode of nutrition.
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
According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2016), Breastfeeding is the standard and natural method of delivering young infants with the adequate nutrients that is needed and required for healthy growth and development. Breast milk is the best and optimal nutrition for infants, in which there are health benefits for both the infants, mothers, families and communities as whole. According to Rockville the (2011), most women in the United States are aware that, breastfeeding is the optimum source of nutrition for most infants, but lack of adequate knowledge and information about its detailed benefits and the risks associated with not breastfeeding.
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.