By Julie Sevrens Lyons
Mercury News
Calling human breast milk ``uniquely superior'' to infant formula, the American Academy of Pediatrics today released its strongest set of recommendations ever to encourage breast-feeding in America.
The new suggestions include urging mothers to sleep close to their babies to facilitate feeding, avoid giving them pacifiers during the early weeks and breast-feed exclusively for six months -- no formula, juice or baby food.
The recommendations also challenge society to back breast-feeding by enacting legislation to protect it, setting expectations in the workplace and considering it in custody settlements.
``Our typical image of how we feed infants is to stick a bottle in their mouth. We need to make breast-feeding the standard way we think of infants being fed,'' said Laurence Grummer-Strawn, chief of maternal and child nutrition at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nursing should continue until the baby is at least 1 year old, and there is no problem with continuing into the third year of life or longer, the new policy states. Other health groups, such as the World Health Organization, recommend breast-feeding for two years or more.
The panel steered clear of the contentious question of whether babies should sleep in the same bed with their parents, but for the first time it recommended that they sleep ``in proximity.'' The group also said nursing women may have an occasional ``small'' alcoholic drink -- as long as breast-feeding is avoided for two hours afterward.
The recommendations are even stronger than some breast-feeding advocates had anticipated. The recommendations call for doctors to inform adoptive mothers that they can breast-feed by inducing lactation through hormonal therapy or mechanical stimulation. Banked human milk could be an alternative for mothers who are unable or unwilling to nurse.
Benefits cited
The American Academy of Pediatrics cited evidence that breast-feeding helps prevent infectious diseases in infants -- ear infections, diarrhea, urinary tract problems and even asthma.
And a growing body of evidence suggests that breast milk can boost a baby's IQ and help prevent diabetes, obesity, leukemia and other serious diseases. Mothers also can benefit from nursing, the academy committee concluded, experiencing a reduced risk of some cancers and bone fractures.
``We realize not every mother will do it. But it really is beneficial to the baby,'' said Dr. Lawrence Gartner, the lead author of the new policy.
``Breast-feeding ensures the best possible health as well as the best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant,'' the guidelines conclude.
Yet it wasn't always perceived that way. Infant formula was in vogue for the greater part of the 20th century, peaking in use during the mid-1970s, according to an article in the journal Contemporary Pediatrics. At that time, the percentage of women who breast-fed their babies reached an all-time low -- just 25 percent -- because commercial formula was inexpensive, easy to use, and perceived by the public to be ``more scientific'' and superior to mother's milk.
Breast-feeding rates are still much lower in this country than public health officials would like.
By the time a baby turns 1 month old, 55 percent of mothers are exclusively breast-feeding, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At 6 months, 14 percent are, although 36 percent of moms still do some breast-feeding at that time.
``People see breast-feeding as optimal -- but not necessarily realistic,'' said M. Jane Heinig, executive director of the University of California-Davis Human Lactation Center and editor of the Journal of Human Lactation.
Barriers to nursing
Among the barriers are insufficient education -- the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending that both parents be told about breast-feeding's benefits -- and hospital policies that encourage mothers to use formula.
Lack of family and societal support have driven many mothers to not breast-feed, as can going back to work outside the home.
Many new moms also don't realize breast-feeding can be difficult, especially during the early weeks, and are not always shown how to prevent soreness or infections.
``When everyone breast-fed, family members and friends knew how to help. Now we need lactation consultants or health care providers with specialized training to help mothers,'' said Laurie Tiffin, chief of breast-feeding promotion with the state's Department of Health Services.
In many regions, breast-feeding is frowned upon. Only 32 states, including California, allow mothers to breast-feed anywhere, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
California has done better than many states in enacting laws friendly to breast-feeding, giving nursing mothers an exemption from jury duty and encouraging employers to set up lactation rooms where mothers can express milk for their children.
But San Jose mother Fanny Freeman is still upset about her first airplane trip with her daughter, who is now nearly 2.
Nursing her 6-week-old baby on a flight from Chicago to California, ``the flight attendant told me that was the most offensive thing he had ever seen and I needed to not do that,'' said Freeman, 29. ``I was crushed.''
Freeman was inspired to help other mothers by becoming a leader for La Leche League International.
``Why is there still a stigma?'' Freeman asked.
The pediatrics panel concluded that widespread breast-feeding could save the country $3.6 billion annually in health care costs. And infant mortality is 21 percent lower in breast-fed babies.
``When you learn about all the advantages,'' Freeman said, ``you think, `My gosh, why isn't everybody doing this?' ''
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/health/10836826.htm\"
Mercury News
Calling human breast milk ``uniquely superior'' to infant formula, the American Academy of Pediatrics today released its strongest set of recommendations ever to encourage breast-feeding in America.
The new suggestions include urging mothers to sleep close to their babies to facilitate feeding, avoid giving them pacifiers during the early weeks and breast-feed exclusively for six months -- no formula, juice or baby food.
The recommendations also challenge society to back breast-feeding by enacting legislation to protect it, setting expectations in the workplace and considering it in custody settlements.
``Our typical image of how we feed infants is to stick a bottle in their mouth. We need to make breast-feeding the standard way we think of infants being fed,'' said Laurence Grummer-Strawn, chief of maternal and child nutrition at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nursing should continue until the baby is at least 1 year old, and there is no problem with continuing into the third year of life or longer, the new policy states. Other health groups, such as the World Health Organization, recommend breast-feeding for two years or more.
The panel steered clear of the contentious question of whether babies should sleep in the same bed with their parents, but for the first time it recommended that they sleep ``in proximity.'' The group also said nursing women may have an occasional ``small'' alcoholic drink -- as long as breast-feeding is avoided for two hours afterward.
The recommendations are even stronger than some breast-feeding advocates had anticipated. The recommendations call for doctors to inform adoptive mothers that they can breast-feed by inducing lactation through hormonal therapy or mechanical stimulation. Banked human milk could be an alternative for mothers who are unable or unwilling to nurse.
Benefits cited
The American Academy of Pediatrics cited evidence that breast-feeding helps prevent infectious diseases in infants -- ear infections, diarrhea, urinary tract problems and even asthma.
And a growing body of evidence suggests that breast milk can boost a baby's IQ and help prevent diabetes, obesity, leukemia and other serious diseases. Mothers also can benefit from nursing, the academy committee concluded, experiencing a reduced risk of some cancers and bone fractures.
``We realize not every mother will do it. But it really is beneficial to the baby,'' said Dr. Lawrence Gartner, the lead author of the new policy.
``Breast-feeding ensures the best possible health as well as the best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant,'' the guidelines conclude.
Yet it wasn't always perceived that way. Infant formula was in vogue for the greater part of the 20th century, peaking in use during the mid-1970s, according to an article in the journal Contemporary Pediatrics. At that time, the percentage of women who breast-fed their babies reached an all-time low -- just 25 percent -- because commercial formula was inexpensive, easy to use, and perceived by the public to be ``more scientific'' and superior to mother's milk.
Breast-feeding rates are still much lower in this country than public health officials would like.
By the time a baby turns 1 month old, 55 percent of mothers are exclusively breast-feeding, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At 6 months, 14 percent are, although 36 percent of moms still do some breast-feeding at that time.
``People see breast-feeding as optimal -- but not necessarily realistic,'' said M. Jane Heinig, executive director of the University of California-Davis Human Lactation Center and editor of the Journal of Human Lactation.
Barriers to nursing
Among the barriers are insufficient education -- the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending that both parents be told about breast-feeding's benefits -- and hospital policies that encourage mothers to use formula.
Lack of family and societal support have driven many mothers to not breast-feed, as can going back to work outside the home.
Many new moms also don't realize breast-feeding can be difficult, especially during the early weeks, and are not always shown how to prevent soreness or infections.
``When everyone breast-fed, family members and friends knew how to help. Now we need lactation consultants or health care providers with specialized training to help mothers,'' said Laurie Tiffin, chief of breast-feeding promotion with the state's Department of Health Services.
In many regions, breast-feeding is frowned upon. Only 32 states, including California, allow mothers to breast-feed anywhere, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
California has done better than many states in enacting laws friendly to breast-feeding, giving nursing mothers an exemption from jury duty and encouraging employers to set up lactation rooms where mothers can express milk for their children.
But San Jose mother Fanny Freeman is still upset about her first airplane trip with her daughter, who is now nearly 2.
Nursing her 6-week-old baby on a flight from Chicago to California, ``the flight attendant told me that was the most offensive thing he had ever seen and I needed to not do that,'' said Freeman, 29. ``I was crushed.''
Freeman was inspired to help other mothers by becoming a leader for La Leche League International.
``Why is there still a stigma?'' Freeman asked.
The pediatrics panel concluded that widespread breast-feeding could save the country $3.6 billion annually in health care costs. And infant mortality is 21 percent lower in breast-fed babies.
``When you learn about all the advantages,'' Freeman said, ``you think, `My gosh, why isn't everybody doing this?' ''
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/health/10836826.htm\"