Why Doctors Recommend Breastfeeding for at Least 6 Months
Any new mother-to-be who’s undecided about breastfeeding or formula feeding should know that evidence favors the former. The benefits of breastfeeding are unmatched, and doctors recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed during at first.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly endorses breastfeeding. They recommend:
“exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby’s life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.”
Most leading health groups agree with this schedule, according to the Office on Women’s Health at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The AAP notes that human milk is tailor-made for babies, and other non-human preparations, such as formula, are markedly different. Breastfeeding is the model against which all other feedings must be judged when it comes to health, growth and development, and “all other short-and-long- term outcomes,” as stated by the AAP.
Baby’s Benefits
Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life provides the best nutrition. Advantages of breastfeeding include:
- Vitamins. Breast milk contains vitamins, fats, lactose, protein and oligosaccharides (a complex carbohydrate) which are needed for growth. It’s easily digested by the baby, more so than formula. Breastfeeding gives the baby the right amount of nutrition to grow at the right speed, while babies on formula can become overweight or develop digestive problems. Formula-fed babies also tend to ingest more protein than they need. Protein is more difficult to digest and results in large, bulky stools.
- Immunity. Babies who are breastfed receive an array of antibodies which strengthen the immune system to fight off infections. These benefits include:
- Being less prone to ear infections, respiratory infections, stomach viruses and asthma.
- Ingesting macrophages, which fight off bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
- Lowering the risk of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, atopic dermatitis (eczema), necrotizing enterocolitis (an intestinal disease) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Taking fewer trips to the doctor and having fewer hospitalizations.
- Lowering the risk of breast cancer for baby girls, even for those who nursed only for a short time.
- Appetite. The baby develops a diverse palate because the mother’s breast milk is flavored by what she eats. This prepares the baby to accept the varying tastes of solid foods.
- Nutrition. Premature infants fare best on breast milk. The milk produced by the mother of a “preemie” provides optimal nutrition. It’s similar to colostrum - the early yellowish milk ingested by the newborn the first few days of life - and is highly nutritional.
- Bonding. All babies need cuddling and caressing. Breastfeeding promotes the maternal feeling and increases bonding between baby and mother. The American Dietetic Association endorses breastfeeding because it’s “needed to realize the health, nutritional, immunological, psychological, economical and environmental benefits of breastfeeding.”
- Cost. The cost of nursing is almost nothing. If the mother works or has other absences, she may have to buy a breast pump and freeze her milk. However, pumps are often covered by insurance providers.
- Sleep. Mother’s milk contains chemicals that calm the baby and often put him or her to sleep. Mothers also become relaxed through breastfeeding.
- Intelligence. Several studies show that breastfeeding has a positive influence on a child’s IQ levels and academic achievement later on in life.
- Health. Some studies note that breastfeeding decreases the risk for other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hodgkin's disease, certain vision problems, bacterial meningitis, osteoporosis and more.
Mommy’s Benefits
Breastfeeding mothers benefit from nursing as well. Some benefits include:
- Breastfeeding burns calories and can help with weight loss after birth.
- Nursing can help return the uterus to its normal size and stop postpartum bleeding more quickly.
- Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- It saves money by eliminating the need for bottles, nipples and formula.
A new mother can relax, bond and know that breastfeeding is best for baby and beneficial for herself. Even with these statistics, however, keeping baby healthy with a full belly - whether from breastmilk or formula - should be the ultimate priority.