What are the benefits of breastfeeding for my baby?

[mme_highlight] A breastfed child does not need any other food or liquid during the first six months of life. Investigators have shown that breastfeeding lowers the probability to develop infections, obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, allergic reactions, leukemia and other diseases.[mme_highlight]

Breast milk is the food that is naturally adapted to the needs of an infant. According to American Academy of Pediatrics, frequency of breastfeeding in the USA is as shown below.

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70% of women initially breastfeed their babies;
33% of women breastfeed their babies for 6 months after delivery;
18% of women breastfeed their babies for 12 months after delivery.

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What is the composition of breast milk?

A breastfed child does not need any other food or liquid during the first six months of life. The basic ingredient of breast milk is water (82.5 – 90%). The level of protein in breast milk is 9-11g/L, the level of fat is 35-45 g/L and level of carbohydrates is 70 – 80 g/L. Also, human breast milk contains optimal quantities of calcium, phosphorus, chloride, sodium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin C.
The electrolyte concentration is adjusted to the kidneys of baby. The antibodies and other immunological significant substances from mother’s milk provide antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic characteristics and thus protect the health of the child. This is why breast milk has an absolute priority in the nutrition of infants.

What are the benefits of breast milk for my baby?

Studies show that breast milk provides multiple benefits to child. As we said, mother’s milk contains a lot of immunologically active substances that help to baby’s undeveloped immune system to fight with infections. It has been proven that children who were breastfed have lower incidence of infectious diseases. This is supported by evidence from research, indicated below.

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Infections: breastfed vs. non-breastfed children
8.1% of children among breast-fed children had pneumonia and bronchitis in the first year of life

14.8% children who are not breastfed had pneumonia and bronchitis in the first year of life
Ear infection is 3 to 4 times more frequent among non-breastfed babies.

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Human milk has the adequate ratio between fat, proteins and carbohydrates that completely and perfectly meets baby’s energetic and nutritional needs. According to scientific research, children who are breastfed have less chance for obesity than children who were fed with formula.
In addition, prospective research accompanying the study population from childhood through adulthood showed that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of diseases that are immune-mediated such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Many studies prove this thesis. e.g. in the group of people aged between 30 and 39 years with diabetes, it was shown that there is much higher percent of diseased among the people who were not breastfed.

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Obesity, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis: breastfed vs. non-breastfed children

1% of obese children were fed with formula milk;
2% of obese children were breastfed;
Chance for morbidity of rheumatoid arthritis was reduced by 40% in breastfed children.

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Breast milk contains less allergens. Therefore, breast milk is the safest food for baby.

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Allergic reactions and breastfeeding

Only 2 to 3 % of babies react to allergens from mother’s milk.
75% of children younger than one year are allergic to the protein of cow’s milk.
8-14% of children who are allergic to cow’s milk, will also develop an allergic reaction to soy milk.

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It was demonstrated that baby girls who were breastfed had 25 percent lower risk to develop breast cancer compared to baby girls who were on adapted milk formula. Also, infants that were breastfed had 21 percent lower risk to develop leukemia.

Mother’s milk osmolality (concentration of dissolved substances in water) is 280-300 mOsm / kg of water; milk formula osmolality is greater. The concentration of protein in the mother’s milk is 11g / L, and the concentration of proteins in adapted cow’s milk formula is 15-19 g / L. Based on these data, we can conclude that underdeveloped baby’s kidneys are more protected with breast milk.
In addition, breast milk has a good influence on the blood pressure of the baby. It is much easier for a baby to digest breast milk than formula, consequently, the quantity of useful substances that are absorbed from digestive tract is much higher in breastfed babies.

Also, it was proven that breastfed children have reduced morbidity (meaning health consequences) from diseases like lymphoma, asthma, high cholesterol, chronic intestinal disorder, mental health problem, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis etc. Some research shows that breastfed children have slightly higher score on cognitive tests and improved “head-eye” coordination.

Breastfeeding relieve stress both for baby and mother. In addition, breastfeeding has an analgesic effect (relieves pain in babies), and it also has a positive effect on baby’s sleep and baby is satiated for a longer period.

Consult also the topic on benefits of breastfeeding for mother’s health: it should be noted that breastfeeding certainly contributes to the building of a unique emotional and psychological connection between mother and baby.

Summary and Recommendations

Breast milk perfectly meets the nutritional requirements of a child during the first 6 months.
The benefits of breastfeeding are multiple and studies show increasing evidence on more advantages. Investigators have shown that breastfeeding lowers the probability to develop infections, obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, allergic reactions, leukemia and other diseases.
Breastfeeding relieves pain and stress in the baby and is a privileged moment to establish a bond between mother and daughter.

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References

Watkins C. J., Leeder S. R., Corkhill R. T. The relationship between breast and bottle feeding and respiratory illness in the first year of life. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1979, 33, 180-182
Zeiger RF, Sampson HA, Bock SA, et al. Soy allergy in infants and children with IgE-mediated cow milk allergy. J Pediatr. 1999;134:614–622
Armstrong J, Reilly JJ, Child Health Information Team. Breastfeeding and lowering the risk of childhood obesity. 2002;359:2003–2004
Pettit DJ, Forman MR, Hanson RL, Knowler WC, Bennett PH. Breastfeeding and the incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Pima Indians. 1997;350:166–168
Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994 Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer. Epidemiology 5:324-331
Shu X-O, et al. Breastfeeding and the risk of childhood acute leukemia. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999; 91: 1765-72
Shu X-O, et al. Breastfeeding and the risk of childhood acute leukemia. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999; 91: 1765-72
Duncan, B et al Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months protects against Otitis Media, Pediatrics 91(1993): 897-872

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