Breastfeeding good, but don't offend

Flickr: Muffet

Several years ago I put together an article about ways to boost a child's immune system, including of course, breastfeeding. The article was about maximizing infection-fighting and/or minimizing adverse vaccine reactions. The couple of comments were about breastfeeding. This one struck me:

"...Breastfeeding is wonderful, but think about what you say before you type it. That comment could really offend someone. Most new moms are honestly trying their very best to take care of their babies. Give them the benefit of the doubt. :)"

My response was this: I try to strike some balance between consideration for others and honesty. On the one hand, I don't purposely set out to shame mothers who don't breastfeed for whatever reason, but their guilt is their own. They hold responsibility for making peace with their choice or circumstance. Breastfeeding campaigns have been shut down for fear of offending. I don't think that kind of caution is in the best interest of anyone. Low breastfeeding rates are a public health issue.

I don't want to offend -- I have a non-confrontational temperament -- but that's not going to inhibit me from speaking up when it really does feel important, like the role of breastfeeding in overall health and wellbeing of mom and baby.

Women are free to choose. Babies get what they get. We're all free to speak our minds and hearts.

Breastfeeding benefits for baby

Flickr: ODHD

Did you know that mothers produce different breast milk for boys and girls? Scientists continue to make new discoveries like this one about the specific beneficial qualities of breast milk to babies from nutritional to immunological, emotional, psychological, and intellectual.

"...researchers are finally beginning to get a better handle on exactly what makes breast milk unique and beneficial," says Denise Mann, WebMD Health News.

Human breast milk contains ingredients, as well as functions, that artificial formulas cannot replicate.

Breast Milk is Tailored to the Infant or Young Child

Breast milk is not only different from formula, it's different from mother to mother. The relationship between mother and baby goes further than frequency and duration of nursing, or supply and demand. Interaction between mother and child affects the composition of milk according to the child's specific needs.

Different Milk for Preemies, Infants, and Toddlers

Preterm babies receive different milk than toddlers, says Barbara Holmes, a lactation specialist at New York University Langone Medical Center.

Different Milk for Boys and Girls

According to a new article in Nature (Dec 23/30), breast milk produced for boys contains more protein and fat than breast milk produced for girls.

“We know that boys grow faster than girls, and perhaps this is due to the milk, or the milk may be responding to the commands of the child,” said Ginna Wall, coordinator of lactation services at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

Breast Milk Protects Against Allergies and Infection

Breast milk is rich in human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which protect infants against infection. Some mothers have up to 200 different HMOs in their milk.

Antibody concentration in breast milk increases when the mother and baby are exposed to germs. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, which kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

New studies show that breast milk affects gene expression in the stomach cells of infants, which could lower breastfed babies' risks of developing food allergies.

Promoting and Sustaining Adequate Milk Supply

Some moms worry about having enough milk, but Gwen Marshall, a Washington state breastfeeding expert, said the reason babies don’t get enough milk is that they don’t have enough access to the breast.

According to Norma Torres' in her August 25 Othello Outlook article, "Breast feeding is more than just food, it's a buffet." She detailed the many ways breast milk changes to meet a baby's changing needs.

For example, breast milk re-formulates at every feeding to match the baby's present nutritional needs.

In addition to nutritional and immunological benefits, the closeness and skin-to-skin contact of breastfeeding provides psychological benefits to the mother and baby.

As an added benefit, breast milk tastes slightly like what the mother has eaten, so baby will likely enjoy the same foods in the future. That means less picky-eater syndrome.

Sources:

WebMD: New insights on benefits of breastfeeding

Othello Outlook: Breastfeeding is more than just food, it's a buffet