Blogging for Babies, Breastfeeding and Mothers

Isn't it amazing? Yet another link in the intergenerational cycle of life. This study collected data from 139,681 postmenopausal  women. A 10% reduction in heart disease, stroke and heart attack was found among women that had breastfed, even 35 years after they stopped breastfeeding.

Even if a woman has breastfed for just 1 month, there is a reduction of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes all  of which contribute to heart disease. Any breastfeeding is better than none, but the protection rises with a longer duration.

When promoting breastfeeding to our peers, relatives and co-workers, it is important to educate them on the intergenerational cycle of fertility which includes the post partum period and breastfeeding. This is just the tip of the iceberg as more studies link women's health to the inclusion of breastfeeding as an important way the body recovers from pregnancy and delivery.

Lead author Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Pitt states, "we always hear it's good for babies and their health and hear less about the benefits for women. This joins other studies in showing breast-feeding has an important role in helping women recover from pregnancy."

More studies are needed that look at exclusive breastfeeding. Most studies look at any breastfeeding. Who knows what the benefits are for women who exclusively breastfeed for at least the first 6 months and continue to breastfeed for 2 years or more.

Did any of you hear about the April Fools Day joke that Dr. Jay Gordon wrote?

Here's the letter:

Press Release

4/1/2009

American Academy of Pediatrics-For Immediate Release

..."the American Academy of Pediatrics which represents 60,000 rimary care Pediatricians, Pediatric medical subspecialists and Pediatric surgical specialists has announced that it is severing all ties with the infant formula industry.

 'This method of feeding substitution has harmed millions of 
children both in America and throughout the world and we
pediatricians can no longer continue our relationship with the manufacturers of infant formula....'  

'Our alliance with the pharmaceutical industry is unethical. Our 
accepting millions of dollars and continuing to allow these 
business people to influence our policies while sponsoring our
speakers, conferences and conventions is an ongoing embarrassment and we will end this ethical problem right now.'

 'Further, I would like to apologize for our past mistakes involving 
the breastfeeding advertisement campaign and allowing the maker of  Similac infant formula to print its corporate logo on the cover of
a special edition  of the academy's book on breastfeeding.'

'Again, I can cannot express enough regret and can assure you that the AAP will immediately seek compliance with the WHO Code and will promote the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative'...."

Dr. Gordon wrote and signed the letter as if the president of the Academy had written it.

Now, do you agree that this is satire and therefore protected by the First Ammendment as Free Speech? When I first read it I thought it was true and I was elated only to discover later that it was an April Fools joke. Ho...hum.

What are your thoughts?

Premature infants need breastmilk more than anything else. Some doctors and researchers have been saying this for years. Paula Meier, RN, DNSc, FAAN of Rush Children's Hospital is a prime example. She has been running The Mothers' Milk Club since 1996. This group, created to encourage and support mothers to commit to providing their own milk for their premature babies, is "based on the latest research evidence that a mothers' milk is uniquely suited to the multi-faceted needs of her special care newborn infant."

Recently UC San Diego Medical Center began a program to increase the number of the premature infants, or preemies, in their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that receive their mothers' milk. According to the CBS Evening News April 10th article, "Mother's Milk A Lifesaver For Preemies?", "only 45 percent of preemies go home on breast milk as compared to 74 percent of full-term babies. Doctors here believe that for babies born weighing only a few ounces, human milk means the difference between life and death."

Breastmilk is an extremely complex and living liquid. Though artificial infant formula provides nutrition for babies, it can provide nothing else. I know I have said it before but it is worth repeating: breastmilk - antimicrobial and full of antibodies to provide protection against illnesses and diseases -is only 10% nutrition. 90% of breastmilk is for creating a strong immune system and supporting the healthy and proper development of every system in the body. A mother's milk also matches 50% of her baby's genetic material. WOW!

Breastmilk is uniquely designed to coat the gastrointestinal tract and protect it from harmful pathogens until it has matured and is able to protect itself. This is of utmost importance in preemies who are more likely to develop a life threatening condition known as necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC. Breastmilk significantly reduces the incidence of NEC. At UC San Diego Medical Center they have seen a decrease from 5.8 before the program started to less than 1%.

As more studies about breastmilk are published, more benefits are discovered and the more we understand why formula, which is made from cow's milk or soy, can not possibly compete with the  remarkable and complex substance of mother's own milk.

Wouldn't it be nice to detect your risk for breast cancer by simply having a scientist examine your breastmilk? Kathleen Arcaro at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is doing just that. She will be collecting and studying breastmilk as an early detector of breast cancer risk. "The test could show signs of elevated breast cancer risk in women at an earlier age than ever before-a population currently not receiving mammograms or other screening."

Breastmilk contains a sampling of cells from all the glands in the breast. This makes it possible to look at many more breast tissues then is achievable with the current methods. Though breast cancer among young women is rare, the results of these tests could  provide a warning to those women at risk.

If you are breastfeeding your second child and have had a breast biospy in the past or are scheduled to have one, you may be eligible to enroll in Arcaro's study. For details see http://www.breastmilkresearch.org/

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Robbie Goodrich is an incredible father. When his wife and mother to just born Moses died from complications of childbirth, Goodrich found a way to provide not only breastmilk for his baby, but also breastfeeding.

Moses, now 2 months old, has been breastfeeding 6 times a day and receiving bottles of breastmilk during the night, thanks to 20 women committed to providing this 'service.' Goodrich stated, "It's commitment, passion - it's love. It's an act of love."

Moses is the perfect name for this little one, as Moses was the first baby mentioned in Western literature to be fed from a wet nurse. Pharaoh's daughter 'adopted' Moses into the Egyptian royal family when he was found in a basket in the bulrushes. His Hebrew mother, Jochebed, had hid him when the Pharaoh ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed. When Pharoah's daughter sent out to find a wet nurse for the baby, unknowingly Moses' own mother was selected.

How long will Moses breastfeed? His father hopes that the wet nurses will continue at least through his first birthday. Yes, an incredible story of these women nurturing baby Moses.

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Would you do this?