170 Countries Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week

Over 170 countries are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) this week to improve breastfeeding rates globally by raising awareness. Partners of the week in the 170 countries, including UNICEF, hope to broadcast the benefits of breastfeeding in order to educate the public.

msmagazine.com

Breastfeeding problems tied to moms' depression

New moms who have particular difficulty breastfeeding may be at greater risk of postpartum depression, a new study suggests. The findings, reported in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, do not prove that breastfeeding problems are the cause of depression symptoms. But researchers say that new mothers and their doctors should be aware that the two can go hand in hand.

reuters.com

Breastfeeding babies do not need extra water, though formula-fed babies often do

Your breastmilk contains enough water for your baby, even in hot, dry climates. Formula contains higher concentrations of salts and minerals than breastmilk does, so that extra water is often necessary for the kidneys to excrete the extra salt. Also, because of less efficient metabolism, formula-fed infants lose more water. In breastfed babies, not only is extra water unnecessary, giving bottles of water to quench baby's thirst may also lessen the desire to breastfeed. This will interfere with the balance between mother's milk supply and baby's demand. Bottles of water are also likely to cause nipple confusion. A baby who is too warm or thirsty, but not hungry, can satisfy his need for more water by feeding more frequently and just enough to get the watery foremilk, but not necessarily the creamier hindmilk. Breastfeeding babies are great self-thirst-quenchers.

askdrsears.com

Breastfeeding probably doesn't stave off multiple sclerosis relapse

Breastfeeding is often encouraged for women with multiple sclerosis. It's not only good nutrition for the baby, studies have suggested it may protect the mother against a relapse of the disease. A study published Wednesday casts doubt on that assertion, however. Researchers followed 298 women with multiple sclerosis for one year after delivery. About one-third of the women breast-fed their babies for at least two months and the remaining did not breastfeed or only did so for a very short time. Researchers found no protective effect for breastfeeding. It did not worsen the relapse rate, either. They did find that women who had relapses during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to have a relapse in the postpartum period compared with women who remained healthy during pregnancy. It could be that those women are more likely to breastfeed their babies.

latimes.com

Breastfeeding in public given thought following bus incident in Michigan

As the Detroit Free Press reports, a 32-year old mother was nursing her two-week-old son on a SMART bus when the bus driver ordered her to cover up or to get off the bus. Moon argues that the baby was in a football wrap and that not much was being exposed. She also refused to get off the bus until her child was finished breastfeeding. As a result, mall security officers boarded the bus at the next stop and began questioning Moon. Under state law concerning breastfeeding, Moon cannot be charged with public indecency. A law that, apparently, the bus driver was unaware of. The SMART authorities have said that they will remind drivers that breastfeeding is allowed on buses.

collegenews.com

The Breast Milk Cure

Nicholas Kristof writes in the New York Times, 'What if nutritionists came up with a miracle cure for childhood malnutrition? A protein-rich substance that doesn’t require refrigeration? One that is free and is available even in remote towns like this one in Niger where babies routinely die of hunger-related causes? Impossible, you say? Actually, this miracle cure already exists. It’s breast milk.' Only 9% of babies are exclusively breast fed for the first six months, many others are given tainted water in the mistaken belief that that's what babies need.

nyt.com

Breastfeeding Protects Against SIDS

Breastfeeding may substantially reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), especially when breast milk is the sole nutritional source, a meta-analysis showed. Any breastfeeding was associated with an independent 45% reduction in risk of SIDS, Fern R. Hauck, MD, MS, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, and colleagues reported in the July issue of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for any duration was associated with a 73% reduction in SIDS.

medpagetoday.com