News tagged with breastfeeding

Fast-acting mothers' milk for healthier babies

Human breastmilk responds quickly to protect the child when there is an infection in mothers or babies, according to new international research led by The University of Western Australia.

Immunology created May 23, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Overeating learned in infancy, study suggests

In the long run, encouraging a baby to finish the last ounce in their bottle might be doing more harm than good.

Overweight and Obesity created May 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Can breastfeeding protect against ADHD?

Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the physical and mental development of infants. A new study suggests that breastfeeding may protect against the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ...

Attention deficit disorders created May 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Is there a link between postpartum depression and the 'love hormone'?

UNC researchers are launching a 5-year study aimed at understanding the role of oxytocin in postpartum depression and bonding between mothers and babies.

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 10, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

HIV-infected moms who breastfeed exclusively have lower levels of virus in breast milk

HIV-infected women in sub-Saharan Africa who fed their babies exclusively with breast milk for more than the first four months of life had the lowest risk of transmitting the virus to their babies through breast milk, according ...

HIV & AIDS created Apr 17, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

South Africa rolls out new single dose AIDS drug

South Africa's health minister on Monday launched a new single dose anti-AIDs drug which will simplify the world's biggest HIV treatment regime to just one life-saving pill a day.

HIV & AIDS created Apr 08, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Breast-feeding won't prevent pre-teen obesity, study finds

(HealthDay)—Breast-feeding has many benefits, but preventing overweight and obesity later in a child's life probably isn't among them, according to a new study.

Health created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Duration of breastfeeding during infancy does not reduce a child's risk of being overweight, obese, study reports

In research that included nearly 14,000 healthy infants in Belarus, an intervention that succeeded in improving the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding during infancy did not result in a lower risk of overweight or ...

Health created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Postpartum anxiety more common than depression

(HealthDay)—Postpartum anxiety is more common than depression in the days and months following delivery, and is associated with adverse maternal heath outcomes and reduced duration of breastfeeding, according ...

Pediatrics created Mar 04, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

Persuading moms to breastfeed: Study examines effects of government nutrition program on choice to use infant formula

One of the federal government's goals in tweaking the content of its food packages for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program was to encourage more new mothers to breastfeed. The changes, which took effect ...

Pediatrics created Feb 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Most moms stop breastfeeding earlier than they desire

(HealthDay)—Concerns about maternal or child health and lactation or milk-pumping problems are the major reasons why mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than desired, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in Pediatrics.

Pediatrics created Feb 19, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Ovarian cancer risk reduced by prolonged lactation

Curtin University researchers have found that women who breastfeed their babies have significantly reduced rates of ovarian cancer in a study that extends what was known about the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on mothers.

Cancer created Feb 01, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Survey finds folk remedies often offered during breastfeeding

(Medical Xpress)—Breastfeeding can be a difficult time for both mother and baby, so using cabbage leaves and tea bags to ease pain or eating oatmeal to increase milk production are among the folk remedies that women pass ...

Health created Jan 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Hugging is good for you, but only with someone you know very well

Hugging someone can help reduce stress, fear and anxiety, has a lowering effect on blood pressure, promotes wellbeing and improves memory performance. These positive effects are caused by the secretion of ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jan 18, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Strategies for coping with extremely hot weather

Exposure to extreme heat can cause illness and even death for some people. But there are several small steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Health created Jan 08, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. Most mothers can breastfeed for six months or more, without the addition of infant formula or solid food.

Human breast milk is the most healthful form of milk for human babies. There are a few exceptions, such as when the mother is taking certain drugs or is infected with tuberculosis or HIV. Breastfeeding promotes health, helps to prevent disease and reduces health care and feeding costs. In both developing and developed countries, artificial feeding is associated with more deaths from diarrhea in infants. Experts agree that breastfeeding is beneficial, but may disagree about the length of breastfeeding that is most beneficial, and about the risks of using artificial formulas.

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and then supplemented breastfeeding for up to one (AAP) or two years or more (WHO). Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life "provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection" that are more common in babies fed formula. The WHO and AAP both stress the value of breastfeeding for mothers and children. While recognizing the superiority of breastfeeding, regulating authorities also work to minimize the risks of artificial feeding.

According to a WHO 2001 report, alternatives to breastfeeding include:

The acceptability of breastfeeding in public varies by culture and country. In Western culture, though most approve of breastfeeding, some mothers may be reluctant to do so out of fear of public opinion.

For more information about Breastfeeding, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Related topics: women , children , infants , babies , mothers