Benefits of Breast Feeding

Breast feeding for infants has been greatly encouraged in recent years due to numerous documented benefits. Among other positive effects, infants who are breast-fed demonstrate a lower incidence of sudden infant death syndrome - the physiology of which is not yet completely understood. Human milk provides cellular factors - such as macrophages, lymphocytes, and enzymes which boost the infant's immunological response. This is particularly beneficial to the preterm infant. Research has demonstrated that infants fed fortified breast milk supplemented with formula often require require less oxygen therapy, experience sepsis less frequently, and are discharged sooner from the hospital.

The following paragraph is taken from The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on breast feeding and the use of human milk:

"Epidemiologic research shows that human milk and breastfeeding of infants provide advantages with regard to general health, growth, and development, while significantly decreasing risk for a large number of acute and chronic diseases. Research in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other developed countries, among predominantly middle-class populations, provides strong evidence that human milk feeding decreases the incidence and/or severity of diarrhea, lower respiratory infection, otitis media, bacteremia, bacterial meningitis, botulism, urinary tract infection, and necrotizing enterocolitis. There are a number of studies that show a possible protective effect of human milk feeding against sudden infant death syndrome, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, lymphoma, allergic diseases, and other chronic digestive diseases. Breastfeeding has also been related to possible enhancement of cognitive development." (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1997, The Need, p.3).

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one frequently-occurring, life threatening condition in preterm infants for which breast milk is regularly prescribed. When the infant's mother is not able to provide lactation, donor human milk may be life saving for the infant affected by NEC. It is thought that necrotizing enterocolitis may be potentiated by bacterial toxins which stimulate the production of inflammatory mediators. This theory may be supported by the benefits seen in infants with NEC after receiving the immunological "boost" provided by human breast milk.

Preterm infants present with nutritional requirements, however, that typically exceed what may be met by receiving unfortified breast milk (or formula) alone. Thus, optimum nutrition is provided when preterm infants are able to receive their own mother's fortified breast milk supplemented with specially-tailored preterm formula.

Klein, C.J. (Ed.). (2002). Nutrient requirements for preterm infant formulas. The Journal of Nutrition, 132(4), 1399-1401.

The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on breast feeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 100 (6), pp. 1035-1039. Retrieved 01/05/05 from http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;100/6/1035

Saadi, A.T., Gordon, A.E., MacKenzie, D.A., James, V.S., Elton, R.A., Weir, D.M., et.al. (1999). The protective effect of breast feeding in relation to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): I. The effect of human milk and infant formula preparations on binding of toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus to epithelial cells. FEMS Immunology of Medical Microbiology, Aug 1:25(1-2), pp. 155-165. Retrieved 12/26/04 from PubMed online.

Updegrove, K. (2004). Necrotizing enterocolitis: The evidence for use of human milk in prevention and treatment. Journal of Human Lactation, Aug:20(3), pp. 335-339.