Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for the Mother-Infant Dyad

Abstract

Synopsis Worldwide, breastfeeding saves the lives of infants and reduces their disease burden. Breastfeeding also reduces the disease burden for mothers. This article examines who chooses to breastfeed and for how long in the American context. It also reviews the latest evidence about the consequences of breastfeeding for the health of both the infant and mother. The results of this review provide support for current national and international recommendations that support breastfeeding.

Physiology of milk secretion

“…Breast-fed infants experience fewer and shorter infections, exhibit different growth patterns, have different gut microflora, show better cognitive development and even face differences in the risk of chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Breastfeeding also appears to be protective against sudden infant death syndrome, the risk of diarrhea, respiratory infections, and malocclusion, but does not seem to provide a protection towards either eczema or food allergy [94,95]. Breastfeeding outcomes are also related to mother genotype, phenotype, diet, disease, and lifestyle [90].…”

Effectiveness of baby friendly hospital initiative implementation on timely initiation of breast feeding - a comparative study

“…11,12 On follow up, higher IQ is reported in breast fed babies. 13,14 Studies indicate that BF helps improve mothers' health as well. Early sucking helps to prevent post-partum hemorrhage and causes and early uterine involution.…”

Ama-esnea, gizadiaren bermea

“…Esnean dauden antigorputzek (A motako immunoglobulinak) umearen digestio-sistemako mukosa estaltzen dute, hala, mikroorganismoek orokorrean garaitu ezinezko hesi bat osatzen dute, eta ondo kontrolatutako mikrobio-floraren garapena ziurtatu. Digestio-hoditik sartzen diren gaixotasun gehienak ekiditen dira horrela, besteak beste, beherako larriak saihesten dira [27,28]. Zuzenean immunitatea sustatzen duten osagarriez gain, uste da ama-esnean dauden oligosakaridoek ere, zeharka, babesa eskainiko diotela haurrari.…”

“…Epe laburrean gertatzen diren osasun-onurak oso ondo aztertu dira, eta ebidentzia zientifikoak bermatzen du ama-esneak umeak hestein fek zioak, arnas-infekzioak eta erdiko otitisa garatzeko arriskua murrizten duela [20,27,28,37]. Elikadura mota honi atxikitako bestelako osasunonurek, ordea, ikerketa gehiago behar dute benetako abantaila zehaztu ahal izateko [20,37].…”

“…Epe laburrean antzemango diren eraginak izango dira erditzearen ondoko hemorragiaarris kua murriztea, estresa murriztea, obulazioaren atzerapena, odol-presioa murriztea, erditu ondoko depresioa garatzeko arriskua murriztea eta pisu-galera handiagoa [20,27,35,41]. Eta epe luzean amengan gertatuko diren ondorio positiboak hurrengoak izango dira: bularreko eta obulutegiko minbizia, hipertentsioa, eta 2 motako diabetesa pairatzeko arriskua murriztea [42][43][44][45].…”