Global InformationBreastfeeding information
Breastfeeding, or nursing, is the process by which human breast milk is fed to a child.[1] Breast milk may be from the breast, or may be pumped and fed to the infant. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding begin within the first hour of a baby's life and continue as often and as much as the baby wants.[2] Health organizations, including the WHO, recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months.[3][4][5] This means that no other foods or drinks, other than vitamin D, are typically given.[6] The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond.[3][4] Of the 135 million babies born every year, only 42% are breastfed within the first hour of life, only 38% of mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, and 58% of mothers continue breastfeeding up to the age of two years and beyond.[3]
Breastfeeding has a number of benefits to both mother and baby that infant formula lacks.[4][7] Increased breastfeeding to near-universal levels in low and medium income countries could prevent approximately 820,000 deaths of children under the age of five annually.[8] Breastfeeding decreases the risk of respiratory tract infections, ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and diarrhea for the baby, both in developing and developed countries.[3][4][9]: 13 Other benefits have been proposed to include lower risks of asthma, food allergies, and diabetes.[4][8] Breastfeeding may also improve cognitive development and decrease the risk of obesity in adulthood.[3][10]
Benefits for the mother include less blood loss following delivery, better contraction of the uterus, and a decreased risk of postpartum depression.[4] Breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation, and in very specific circumstances, fertility, a phenomenon known as lactational amenorrhea.[4][9]: 83 Long-term benefits for the mother include decreased risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.[4][8][9]: 13 Breastfeeding is less expensive than infant formula,[11][12] but its impact on mothers' ability to earn an income is not usually factored into calculations comparing the two feeding methods.[13] It is also common for women to experience generally manageable symptoms such as; vaginal dryness, De Quervain syndrome, cramping, mastitis, moderate to severe nipple pain and a general lack of bodily autonomy. These symptoms generally peak at the start of breastfeeding but disappear or become considerately more manageable after the first few weeks.
Feedings may last as long as 30–60 minutes each as milk supply develops and the infant learns the Suck-Swallow-Breathe pattern.[9]: 50–51 However, as milk supply increases and the infant becomes more efficient at feeding, the duration of feeds may shorten.[9]: 50–51 Older children may feed less often.[14] When direct breastfeeding is not possible, expressing or pumping to empty the breasts can help mothers avoid plugged milk ducts and breast infection, maintain their milk supply, resolve engorgement, and provide milk to be fed to their infant at a later time.[1][15][16][9]: 55, 63–67 Medical conditions that do not allow breastfeeding are rare.[4] Mothers who take certain recreational drugs should not breastfeed, however, most medications are compatible with breastfeeding.[9]: 17 Current evidence indicates that it is unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted through breast milk.[17] Smoking tobacco and consuming limited amounts of alcohol and/or coffee are not reasons to avoid breastfeeding.[18][19][20]
- ^ a b "Breastfeeding and Breast Milk: Condition Information". National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "Infant and young child feeding Fact sheet N°342". WHO. February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Infant and young child feeding Fact sheet N°342". World Health Organization (WHO). 9 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Johnston M, Landers S, Noble L, Szucs K, Viehmann L, et al. (Section on Breastfeeding) (March 2012). "Breastfeeding and the use of human milk". Pediatrics. 129 (3): e827–e841. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552. PMID 22371471. S2CID 5791615. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015.
- ^ Kramer MS, Kakuma R (August 2012). "Optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012 (8): CD003517. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003517.pub2. PMC 7154583. PMID 22895934.
- ^ "Breastfeeding".
- ^ Ip S, Chung M, Raman G, Trikalinos TA, Lau J (October 2009). "A summary of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's evidence report on breastfeeding in developed countries". Breastfeeding Medicine. 4 (Suppl 1): S17–S30. doi:10.1089/bfm.2009.0050. PMID 19827919.
- ^ a b c Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, França GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al. (January 2016). "Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect". Lancet. 387 (10017): 475–490. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(15)01024-7. hdl:10072/413175. PMID 26869575. S2CID 24126039.
- ^ a b c d e f g Eglash A, Leeper K (2020). The Little Green Book of Breastfeeding Management for Physicians & Other Healthcare Providers (7 ed.). Madison, WI: The Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding and Lactation Education. ISBN 978-0-9987789-0-7.
- ^ Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM (1 January 2011). Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 227–228. ISBN 978-1-4377-0788-5.
- ^ "Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. American Academy of Pediatrics. Work Group on Breastfeeding". Pediatrics. 100 (6): 1035–1039. December 1997. doi:10.1542/peds.100.6.1035. PMID 9411381. S2CID 81585356. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012.
- ^ "What are the benefits of breastfeeding?". 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ Momigliano A (21 May 2019). "Breast-feeding isn't free. This is how much it really costs". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "What is weaning and how do I do it?". 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ Amir LH (June 2014). "ABM clinical protocol #4: Mastitis, revised March 2014". Breastfeeding Medicine. 9 (5): 239–243. doi:10.1089/bfm.2014.9984. PMC 4048576. PMID 24911394.
- ^ Berens P, Brodribb W (May 2016). "ABM Clinical Protocol #20: Engorgement, Revised 2016". Breastfeeding Medicine. 11 (4): 159–163. doi:10.1089/bfm.2016.29008.pjb. PMC 4860650. PMID 27070206.
- ^ "Agencies encourage women to continue to breastfeed during the COVID-19 pandemic". World Health Organization. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- ^ "Breastfeeding and alcohol". NHS Choices. NHS. 21 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Breastfeeding and diet". NHS Choices. NHS. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Tobacco Use | Breastfeeding | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.