BREAST FEEDING/NEONATAL JAUNDICE
Breast feeding a minimum of six times per day has been shown to
lower bilirubin levels in newborn infants. Feeding is often
followed by a bowel movement, which reduces absorption of
bilirubin. (Clinical Pediatrics 25(2)112, February, 1985) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING/PEDIATRICIANS
A questionnaire given to pediatric residents demonstrated
inadequate knowledge of breastfeeding techniques. The researchers
called for additional training in this area, so that they may
assist breastfeeding mothers in their practice. (American Journal
of Preventive Medicine 11(1)26-33, 1995) Copyright Phylis Austin
FEEDING THE BABY
Infants vary greatly in their willingness to accept new foods, and many eager parents salt
food in an attempt to make it more acceptable to the infant. A study from the Division of
Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Illinois showed that adding
salt to new foods did not make them more acceptable to infants. They also observed that
infants who had been breast-fed were more willing to accept new foods than were infants
who had been bottle fed. (Pediatrics 93(2)271-277, February 1994) This study provides
encouragement for mothers to provide a low salt diet for their infants. Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING/DIABETES
Pima Indians who breastfeed their infants exclusively for the
first two months are decreasing the child's risk of developing
diabetes mellitus later in life. Bottle-fed babies tend to be more
obese, which promotes diabetes. The researchers who report these
findings suggest that the decrease in breastfeeding in recent years
may have contributed to the increase in diabetes mellitus which we
are seeing. (The Lancet 350:166-168, July 19, 1997) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING/INFANT VISION
Breastfed infants may develop better vision than formula-fed
infants. Breast-fed infants in a study done in Copenhagen had
one-third better vision at 2- and 4 months of age than did formula
fed infants. (Medical Tribune 25(10)17, May 19, 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING/BREAST CANCER
Earlier reports have suggested that women may reduce their risk of
breast cancer by breastfeeding their children. A recent report
suggests that breastfed infants are less likely to develop breast
cancer later in life. (Epidemiology 5(3)324-331, May 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING/NEUROLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
Nine-year-old children who were breast-fed were compared to a
similar group who were not. The breast-fed children showed better
neurological development. It may be that the longer-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast milk may produce this
benefit. (The Lancet 344:1319-1322, November 12, 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST CANCER/BREASTFEEDING
Several recent reports have shown a relationship between nutrition
in infancy and later breast cancer. A study of New York women
showed that women who had been breastfed were less likely to
develop breast cancer in adulthood, while those who were bottlefed
are at increased risk. (Epidemiology 5:324-331, 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
PACIFIERS/BREAST FEEDING
Pacifier use may interfere with breast feeding according to a study
from Brazil. It is felt that the infants may suffer "nipple
confusion" which leads to poor sucking at the breast. The study
showed that the more frequently a one-month old infant was given a
pacifier the more likely the infant was to no longer be breast fed
at four months of age. Because breast milk protects the newborn
from infection, the researchers urge that early pacifier use be
discouraged. (Pediatrics 95(4)497-499, April 1995) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING IN FIRST DAY OF LIFE
Frequent breastfeeding during the first day of life has been shown
to have a number of benefits for the child, including more frequent
meconium passage, less loss of weight, greater intake of breast
milk in successive days, and lower levels of jaundice. (Pediatrics
86(2)171-175, August 1990) Home births, which allow mother and
infant to remain together, makes frequent breastfeeding easier. Copyright Phylis Austin
EXERCISE/BREAST FEEDING
Many breast feeding mothers want to participate in physical
exercise, but fear that it will interfere with milk production.
Exercise provides many benefits during this phase of life,
including loss of pregnancy-associated weight gain, higher energy
levels, and reduced stress, and may help reduce the risk of
postpartum depression. A review of the effects of exercise during
breastfeeding indicates that women who resume exercise gradually,
and provide proper support for their breasts to prevent tenderness
may safely resume moderate physical exercise. (The Physician and
Sports Medicine 19(4)109-116, April 1991) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING/CROHN'S DISEASE/ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Infants who are breast-fed, particularly those who are breast-fed
for several months, are less likely to develop Crohn's disease or
ulcerative colitis later in life. (Annals of Epidemiology 3:389-
392, 1993) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREASTFEEDING/EARACHE
Exclusive breast-feeding for at least four months helps to protect
young children from otitis media (earache) according to a report
from Tucson, Arizona. Otitis is one of the most common childhood
illnesses. It has been estimated that over 60 percent of all
children will have at least one earache during their first year of
life and about 17 percent will have three episodes. Giving the
child nothing but breast milk will greatly decrease the incidence
of otitis media. (Pediatrics 91(5)867-873, 1993) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/DIARRHEA
Diarrhea is a major health problem in many low-income areas of the
world. Breast feeding has been shown to be helpful in the
prevention and treatment of diarrhea in young children. A recent
study from the Philippines demonstrated that adding even water,
tea, or other fluids to the diet of breastfeeding infants increases
their risk of developing diarrhea. (Pediatrics 86(6)874-882,
December 1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
A study of multiple sclerosis patients in Naples, Italy revealed
that multiple sclerosis patients were less likely to have been
breast-fed for long periods of time than were healthy controls.
(British Medical Journal 308:1411-1412, May 28, 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS
Children who are breast fed are less likely to develop insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus later in life according to a Colorado study. (Diabetes 37(12)1625-1632,
December, 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
FAT IN BREAST MILK/NEONATAL JAUNDICE
Infants of mothers with a high breast milk fat content are more
likely to suffer neonatal jaundice. It is felt that this fat
hinders the ability of the infant's body to eliminate the cause of
jaundice, bilirubin. (Acta Paediatrica Jpn 30:492-496, 1988; Acta
Paediatrica Scandinavica 74:805-806, 1985) Mothers should
eliminate free fats (margarine, mayonnaise, fried foods, cooking
fats, salad oils, animal fats, and excessive amounts of nut
butters, milk, eggs, and cheese) before the baby is born in an
attempt to improve the baby's liver function so that bilirubin can
be broken down faster. Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/CIGUATERA POISONING
A four-month-old breast-fed infant developed diarrhea, colic
symptoms and a rash after his mother ate fish which was ciguatera
affected. The mother and other adults who ate the fish developed
diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, numbness and tingling, and
changes in temperature discrimination. Some developed dizziness,
itching, weakness, and joint and muscle pain. It was felt that the
toxins were passed to the infant through the breast milk. (Journal
of the American Medical Association 264(16)2074, October 24/31,
1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/DELIVERY ROOM
Delivery room routines may have a marked influence on the success
of the first breast-feeding session according to a study from
Sweden. One group of infants in the study group were treated in
the routine manner, being taken from their mothers about 20 minutes
after birth for weighing, measuring, and other nursing functions.
The other group of infants were allowed to lie naked on their
mother's abdomen for an hour after birth. Infants in the
uninterrupted contact group began searching for the mother's breast
about 20 minutes after birth, and most of them nursed for the first
time about 50 minutes after birth. This group of infants had a
higher percentage of infants who had the correct sucking technique,
decreasing later breast feeding problems.
The authors of the study also noted that pethidine hydrochloride
had an adverse effect on the infant's ability to nurse. They
caution that drugs used during labor be carefully evaluated. (The
Lancet 336:1105-1107, November 3, 1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST-FEEDING/DIABETES MELLITUS
Breast-feeding children for long periods may protect them from the
later development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Several
previous studies have suggested this possibility, although the
mechanism is not understood. Some researchers feel that diabetes
may be due to an infectious agent, and breast milk is known to
contain anti-infective properties. (Diabetes 37:2625-1632, December
1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
INFANT FEEDING/CHILDHOOD CANCER
Children who are breast-fed for six months or more are less likely
to develop childhood cancer. A study of 201 children in Denver,
Colorado, showed an increased rate of lymphoma in children fed
artificially. Previous studies have shown no relationship between
breast-feeding and childhood cancers, but this carefully done study
divided the children into three groups: those breast-fed less than
six months, those breast-fed longer than six months, and those who
received no breast milk at all. The children breast-fed less than
six months and those who had no breast milk had higher cancer rates
than those breast-fed six months or longer. (The Lancet 2:365-368,
August 13, 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
FAILURE TO THRIVE/COLIC/BREAST FEEDING
Breast-feeding mothers have traditionally been instructed to switch
their baby from one breast to the other after about ten minutes of
nursing. This may lead to malnutrition if the baby's stomach is
filled with the low-fat foremilk from both breasts, leaving no room
for the aftermilk, which is higher in fat. This low-fat milk
leaves the stomach quickly and may allow high levels of milk sugars
to enter the small intestine, where they may ferment to produce
gas, bloating and diarrhea, symptoms of colic. These researchers
suggest that infants should be permitted to empty one breast
entirely before being placed on the other breast. If the child is
satisfied with only one breast he will receive adequate
nourishment, and may be placed on the other breast at the next
feeding. The mother's milk supply will adjust to the baby's
demand. One 15-month-old infant who had gained only two ounces in
three weeks and suffered explosive diarrhea, cried constantly, and
slept poorly, showed marked improvement in symptoms within two days
after being placed on the one-breast program. (The Lancet 2:382-
384, 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST-FEEDING/TOOTH ALIGNMENT
A Johns Hopkins study suggests that long-term breast-feeding may
prevent misalignment of the teeth. Sucking on a bottle nipple
produces an abnormal tongue thrusting pattern, and poor muscle
development. As the length of time children are breast-fed
increases, malocclusion of the teeth decreases. Approximately 36.4
percent of infants breast-fed less than three months (or not at
all) had abnormalities; 32.1 percent of those breast-fed more than
six months showed poor tooth alignment. Breast feeding is cheaper
in infancy, and may also lower orthodontic bills later in the
child's life. (American Journal of Preventive Medicine 3:227-232,
1987) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST-FEEDING/INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Giving young infants cow's milk may be responsible for the later
development of inflammatory bowel disease according to a visiting
professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital in Detroit,
Michigan. Dr. Aderbal Sabra told the World Congress of
Gastroenterology that breast-feeding may decrease the risk of later
development of inflammatory bowel disease. (Gastroterology and
Endoscopy News 38(3)5, March 1987) Copyright Phylis Austin
EARLY BREAST FEEDING/NEONATAL JAUNDICE
Newborn infants often develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin). A
study from Govt Lady Goeschen Hospital and Kasturba Medical College
in Mangalore, India, reveals that early feeding of infants may
result in less jaundice. They discovered that infants begun on
breast milk within six hours after birth and not given
supplementary food had less yellowing than those fed later after
birth. (Indian Pediatrics 24(9)757-758, September, 1987) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/THYROID DISEASE
Adolescents who were breast-fed as infants are apparently at decreased risk of developing
autoimmune thyroid disease. (Pediatric Research 23(4 Pt. 2)276A, April 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST-FED INFANTS/GROWTH CHARTS
A group of researchers at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, are calling for growth
and development charts specifically for breast-fed infants. They point out that the growth
pattern of breast-fed infants is different than those fed artificially, and the charts were
compiled during an era when most infants were bottle fed. These charts may suggest a
health problem when none exists because of the difference in growth patterns. (Pediatric
Nursing 14(2)117-124, April, 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
RECTAL BLEEDING IN BREAST-FED INFANT
A 21-day-old totally breast-fed infant developed rectal bleeding, colic, and eczema of the
face. When the researchers suggested that the baby's mother eliminate all dairy products
from her diet the infant's rectal bleeding and skin problems promptly resolved. (Acta
Paediatrica Scandanivaca 77:163-164, 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/INFANT DEVELOPMENT
Breast-fed infants show significantly advanced social and
psychomotor skills at the age of 12 months. (Acta Paediatrica
Hungarica 25(4)409-417, 1984) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/BREAST CANCER
Prolonged breast feeding appears to be protective against the later
development of breast cancer according to a Washington state study.
(American Journal of Epidemiology 124:353-9, 1986) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/JAUNDICE
Jaundice and breast feeding have been associated in some studies,
but not in others. A study conducted at Salt Lake City suggests
that the failure to nurse frequently may contribute to the
development of jaundice.
Babies who are breast-fed are often allowed to remain in the
hospital nursery overnight without being taken to their mothers.
They may be given bottles of formula or water during the night.
(Pediatric News 20(7)7,1986) Infants who are born without
medication are more alert and vigorous suckers, and if they are at
home they can conveniently be fed during the night. Copyright Phylis Austin
COLIC/BREAST FEEDING
Colic in breast-fed infants may be due to the mother's intake of
cow's milk. Studies suggest that a macromolecular substance in
cow's milk is transmitted to the baby through the breast milk, and
produces colic. Eliminating cow's milk from the mother's diet
resulted in prompt disappearance of the infant's colic. (The
Lancet 2:437, 1980) Copyright Phylis Austin
SMOKING/BREASTFEEDING
Mothers who smoke while breastfeeding risk exposing their infants
to insecticides which are applied to the tobacco plants. (Mayo
Clinic Proceedings 59:759-765, November 1984) ED- Infants whose
mothers smoked during pregnancy are at twice the risk of sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS) than those of non-smoking mothers. Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/DIARRHEA IN INFANTS
Infants who developed diarrhea, but were kept on breast milk passed
fewer diarrheal stools, required less rehydration fluid, and
recovered more quickly than those fed other formulas. The authors
of this study done in Burma state that breast feeding has a
beneficial effect on acute diarrhea. (British Medical Journal
270:587-589, February 23, 1985) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESS
Infants fed formula are at six times the risk of developing acute
gastrointestinal disease than are breast-fed infants according to
a new Michigan study. (American Journal of Public Health
75:477-480, 1985) Copyright Phylis Austin
BREAST FEEDING/INFANT DEVELOPMENT
A Hungarian study reveals that breastfed infants demonstrate
significant developmental advantages in social and psychomotor
development at 12 months of age. The authors feel this advantage is
due to many factors including the nutrients present in breast milk,
and mother-child interaction. (Acta Paediatrica Hungarica
25(4)409-417, 1984) Copyright Phylis Austin