Benefits of Breastfeeding  Species- specific  Optimal nutrition  Minimizes exposure to foreign proteins Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics Photo © Roni M. Chastain, RN

Benefits of Breastfeeding  Customized  Promotes appropriate growth pattern  Provides multiple hormones and growth factors  Promotes mother- infant attachment Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics Photo © Roni M. Chastain, RN

CDC 2000 Growth Charts Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

Benefits of Breastfeeding  Increases interval between births  Decreases infant mortality, especially in high-risk populations Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

Immune Benefits  Secretory IgA and other immunoglobulins  Antiviral and antibacterial factors  Cellular immune components  Cytokines, including interleukins  Enzymes  Nucleotides Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

Benefits to Infant  Gastroenteritis and diarrhea  Otitis media  Pneumonia and lower respiratory infection  Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection  Major bacterial infections (neonatal sepsis, Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib] meningitis)  Necrotizing enterocolitis  Urinary tract infection Decreased incidence or severity of Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

Benefits to Infant  Decreased incidence of  Diabetes mellitus  Obesity  Sudden infant death syndrome  Improved oral-motor development  Improved arch of the mouth  Reduction in orthodontic problems Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

Cognitive Benefits  Human milk  Contains fatty acids, nucleotides, oligosac- charides, and taurine to enhance neural and retinal development  Enables child to reach full develop- mental and intellectual potential  Human milk fat  Provides essential fatty acids  Provides long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

Benefits for Women  Promotes uterine invo- lution and decreases risk of postpartum hemorrhage  Lowers risk of ovarian and breast cancer  Facilitates earlier return to prepregnancy weight  May decrease risk of osteoporosis in post- menopausal period Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics Photo © Amy Kotler, MD, FAAP

Lactational Amenorrhea Method Have mother’s menses returned? Is mother supplementing regularly or allowing long periods without breastfeeding? Is the baby older than 6 months? There is a 1%–2% risk of pregnancy. Yes Advise another method of family planning. No Reprinted from Contraception. 1997;55:328, Multicenter study of the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM): I. Efficacy, duration, and implications for clinical application, Labbok MH et al, with permission from Elsevier Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics No Yes

Benefits to Society  Reduced health care costs  Lower employee absenteeism  Convenient and cost effective  Environmentally friendly  Reduced cost of energy and use of natural resources in manufac- turing of infant formula Copyright © 2003, Rev 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics