Susannah
03-13-2005, 08:40 AM
Mother's milk best for baby, new pediatrics policy urges
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?' ''
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Julie Sevrens Lyons at jly-@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5989.
Here is a link to the AAP website of policy revisions, that includes this particular policy update: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496?fulltext=&searchid=QID_NOT_SET
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?' ''
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Julie Sevrens Lyons at jly-@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5989.
Here is a link to the AAP website of policy revisions, that includes this particular policy update: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496?fulltext=&searchid=QID_NOT_SET