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LLL USA WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK CELEBRATION

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La Leche League | Breastfeeding and Good Health | Infant Formula and Its Risks | Factoids

La Leche League's Mission

Our Mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/mission.html?m=1,0,2

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Why is LLL Necessary?

Breastfeeding is an instinctual and natural act, but it is also an art that is learned day by day.
The reality is that almost all women can breastfeed, have enough milk for their babies and learn how to overcome problems both large and small. It is almost always simply a matter of practical knowledge and not a question of good luck.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/necessary.html

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The ideals and principles of mothering which are the foundation of LLLI beliefs are further developed in THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, the most comprehensive handbook on breastfeeding and parenting ever published. It has provided needed answers to three generations of nursing mothers on every aspect of breastfeeding.

(From LLLI publication No. 300-17, "La Leche League Purpose and Philosophy.") http://www.llli.org/philosophy.html?m=1,0,1

BREASTFEEDING "FACTOIDS"

Human milk has been shown to kill cancer cells in a laboratory dish and has been used in oncology.
Mother’s milk has immune properties that can deliver a particular antibody in response to a new germ in the baby’s environment.
Breastfed babies require shorter pre- and post-surgical fasting.
No two mothers produce identical milk.
Mother’s milk is uniquely suited to meet her baby’s nutritional needs.
Breastfeeding decreases the incidence of dental cavities and the need for orthodontics.
Up to 50% of the iron in human milk can be absorbed by the infant, as compared to 10% in cow’s milk, and 4% in iron-fortified formulas.
Adoptive moms, grandmothers, and yes, even men have been able to lactate for an infant.
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The more months a women breastfeeds over her lifetime, the greater the protection.
The amount of fat in a mother’s milk varies from feeding to feeding and from week to week. The fat content of the milk changes even during a feeding.
Mothers of premature infants produce milk that is higher in protein and other nutrients than milk produced by mothers of full-term infants.
Breast milk contains stem cells.

Additional Factoids courtesy of Amanda Dixon, LLL of Grand Blanc, MI

Did you know that mother's milk will change to meet her baby's needs throughout the nursing relationship?
Did you know that breastmilk will help babies stay healthier and recover faster if they become ill?
Did you know that breastfeeding enhances babies' eye-hand coordination?
Did you know that breastfeeding is the first preventable measure against obesity in adult life?
Did you know you can return to work and still be successful at breastfeeding?
Did you know an infant uses 20 -60 times more muscular effort to get milk from the breast than a bottle?
Did you know that breastfeeding is less stressful for an infant than bottle feeding?
Did you know that nursing eases frustrations, helping the "terrible twos" be the "terrific twos"?
Did you know your milk is perfectly designed for your baby, no matter when he/she is born?
Did you know that adoptive mothers have been able to lactate for an infant?
Did you know that a higher IQ has been associated with children who are breastfed?
Did you know that breastmilk contains the enzyme lipase which helps baby digest milk fat more efficiently?
Did you know that breastmilk can be used in place of many ointments and medications?
Did you know that breastfeeding helps a mother be more in tune with her baby?
Did you know that in many cases babies with special needs are still able to nurse?
Did you know that the level of immunities in mother's milk actually increases during the second year of breastfeeding?
Did you know that women who have not breastfed have a 4 times greater chance of developing osteoporosis?

BREASTFEEDING AND GOOD HEALTH

Breastfeeding is as much about the food as sex is about the sperm. Although it's primarily designed for survival, it's part of an intimate loving physical relationship- the template for all relationships in life. So for success, it involves persistence, commitment, giving beyond what seems reasonable- and provides rewards beyond what is given. -Nan Jolly, South Africa:

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"Milk is a side effect of love."

Christina M. Smilie, MD

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Human Milk is Green

PDF copy

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http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/738354
Medscape One-on-One With Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA. Interviewed by Eli Y. Adashi of Brown University. This is an audio presentation, as well as a copy of the interview.
"We know that as the antibodies are transferred from the mother to the baby, fewer upper respiratory infections and ear infections occur. We also see [fewer diagnoses of] SIDS [sudden infant death syndrome] in babies. So, we know the benefits [of breast-feeding for the baby]."

"What we don't seem to talk about as often is the benefits of breast-feeding for the mother. Breast cancer and ovarian cancer are less likely to develop in mothers who breast-feed. We wonder why we aren't seeing more breast-feeding among mothers. We know that more than 75% of women initiate breast-feeding, but by the time they're 6 months [postpartum], they're not breast-feeding anymore. The rate has dropped down to less than 10%-12% [at this point]. Something happens [during those 6 months, and] we wonder why."

"What we're finding is that our society is not as friendly to breast-feeding for moms who want to breast-feed. ....among those who want to breast-feed, we need to make it easier for them: to make the environment [more open to breast-feeding]."

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Obesity: Choosing to nurse during the first year of life is one of the few cautionary steps mothers can take, said Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist and childhood obesity specialist at the University of Michigan. "You can't tell a 9 month old to do more exercise."
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If 90% of US families could comply with medical recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, the United States would save $13 billion per year and prevent an excess 911 deaths, nearly all of which would be in infants ($10.5 billion and 741 deaths at 80% compliance).
The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis
Melissa Bartick, MD, MSca, Arnold Reinhold, MBAb Published online April 5, 2010 PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2009-1616)

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'The one thing that has evolved with humans, to nourish humans, is breast milk. It is the ideal evolutionary model for what nourishment should be. It is a remarkable fluid.'

J. Bruce German, a food science professor at the University of California, Davis
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/86/8639cover.html

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Breast-feeding, but not oral contraceptives, is associated with a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Pikwer M, Bergström U, Nilsson JA, Jacobsson L, Berglund G. Turesson C.
Malmö University Hospital, Sweden. 2008 May 14
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18477739?dopt=AbstractPlus

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The American Public Health Association (APHA) recently adopted the following policy:

Breastfeeding as a fundamental public health issue - Affirms that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life with continued breastfeeding for at least the first one or two years of life is the biological norm, and that all alternative feeding methods carry health risks in comparison, with rare exceptions. Recognizes that breastfeeding is viewed as a public health issue and insists that maternal and child and comprehensive public health policies include attention to breastfeeding protection, education, promotion and support. Identifies the exclusive breastfeeding rate as a leading health indicator in the goals of the nation. Denounces aggressive marketing of human milk substitutes, particularly in health care settings.

The American Public Health Association, 800 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20001-3710
http://www.apha.org/about/news/pressreleases/2008/2007policies.htm

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"Provide support to breastfeeding mothers throughout pregnancy, at delivery, during the postpartum period, and during at least the first 6 months of life."

City Health Information
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Vol. 27(3):17-24 March 2008
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/chi/chi27-3.pdf

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"...breast-feeding for at least 13 months is associated with a reduced risk of [Rheumatoid Arthritis]."

Barklay, Laurie MD "Long-Term Breastfeeding May Reduce Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis," Medscape Today May 14, 2008, based on study published in British Medical Journal's Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases May 13, 2008
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/574467

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Breast-feeding appears to be protective against development of type 2 diabetes in youth, mediated in part by current weight status in childhood.

The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Case-Control Study

Elizabeth J. Mayer-Davis, PHD, Dana Dabelea, MD, PHD, Archana Pande Lamichhane, MS, Ralph B. D'Agostino, Jr., PHD, Angela D. Liese, PHD, Joan Thomas, MS, Robert E. McKeown, PHD and Richard F. Hamman, MD
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/31/3/470

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"Breastfeeding is the biological norm for mothers and babies. It is a relationship that provides stress reducing hormones to the mother as well as stimulation, connection, and protection from illness to the baby. It even feeds the baby."

Alice Martino Roddy, La Leche League Leader
Linden, Virginia

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"As long as you can - breastfeed! And get that protection into your child."

Dr. David Rose, Deputy Director, Maternal and Primary Care Administration, DC Department of Health
"Asthma and Allergies in Children" The Kojo Nnamdi Show, WAMU American University Radio, April 5, 2007, http://www.wamu.org/programs/kn/07/04/05.php#13633

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"Breastfed babies are less likely to have certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adulthood than their bottle-fed counterparts, researchers reported at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2007."

Breastfeeding babies offers them long-term heart-health benefits, American Heart Association 11/05/2007, http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3050868

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Breastfeeding beneficial for development of gross motor skills

The protective effect of breastfeeding on the attainment of gross motor milestones is attributable to some component(s) of breast milk or feature of breastfeeding and is not simply a product of advantaged social position, education, or parenting style.

PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 3 September 2006, pp. e682-e689 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-3141)
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/118/3/e682

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“Babies who were at least partly breastfed were one-third less likely to die as a cot death than babies who were never breastfed.”

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of cot death
30 April 2008
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID)
http://www.fsid.org.uk/breastfeeding-news.html

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Breastfeeding is a natural sustainable resource and no doubt the best infant food in the world. It does not require the use of fertilizers or pesticides, growth hormones or antibiotics which would ultimately be passed along to baby.

Breastfeeding is Eco-Friendly, Jessica Gunsch, BellaOnline's Breastfeeding Editor
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art16877.asp

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Supply and demand
Evidence suggests more women are breast-feeding their children until they're toddlers and older -- and they're not just earth-mother stereotypes

By Barbara F. Meltz, Globe Staff | The Boston Glove, March 31, 2007
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/03/31/supply_and_demand/?page=1

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Breast feeding during the introduction of dietary gluten, and increasing duration of breast feeding were associated with reduced risk of developing Celiac Disease.

Effect of breast feeding on risk of coeliac disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
A. K. Akobeng, A. V. Ramanan, I. Buchan, and R. F. Heller
Arch. Dis. Child., Jan 2006; 91: 39 - 43.
http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/91/1/39?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=
10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=breast+feeding+on+risk+of+coeliac+disease&andorexactfulltext =and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

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Children breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of life had less risk of respiratory tract infection including pneumonia and recurrent otitis media than did children breastfed for 4 months.

PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 2
February 2006, pp. 425-432 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2283)
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/117/2/425

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"Breastfeeding is a mother's gift to herself, her baby and the earth."

Pamela K. Wiggins
IBCLC, Author
www.breastfeedingbooks.com

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“Children who are breast-fed are smarter than those who aren't.”

Canadian researchers dispel lingering doubts about intelligence boost by nursing from breast
Joseph Hall, Health Reporter
May 06, 2008
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/421708

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"It is hip to NIP -- Nurse in Public."

Robert L. Jamieson, Jr.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Columnist
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/jamieson/230375_robert28.html

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Can Breastfeeding Prevent Illnesses? Research shows your child's immune system will not be fully mature for many years. While it is developing, he will be protected by being breastfed. His own immune system also develops more rapidly than does baby who is fed formula.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/prevention.html

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"In keeping with the deep concern about increases in childhood obesity in the United States, the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) wishes to emphasize that breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and extended breastfeeding into the toddler years, may exert a small but positive influence in reducing the risk for obesity in childhood and later in life and thereby be of considerable importance in the role of nutrition in public health."

From the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) 2003
http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Position-Statements/USBC-IOM-Obesity-Conf.pdf

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"Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."

American Academy of Pediatrics Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 2 February 2005, pp. 496-506 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2491)
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;115/2/496

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"Public health leaders say the weight of the scientific evidence for breast-feeding has grown so overwhelming that it is appropriate to recast their message to make clear that it is risky not to breast-feed."

Breast-Feed or Else By RONI RABIN
The New York Times June 13, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/13/health/13brea.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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"Breastfeeding longer than 3 months may protect against bed-wetting during childhood. Breast milk supplemented with formula did not make a difference in the rate of enuresis."

Breastfeeding During Infancy May Protect Against Bed-wetting During Childhood
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 1 July 2006, pp. 254-259 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-2738)
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/1/254

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INFANT FORMULA AND ITS RISKS

Sept, 2010. Abbott is initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of certain Similac-brand, powder infant formulas in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and some countries in the Caribbean.
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Toxic Plastics Chemical in Infant Formula
“The amount of BPA ingested by some bottle-fed infants exceeds the doses that caused serious adverse effects in animal studies.”

Executive summary
Jane Houlihan, Sonya Lunder, August 2007
Environmental Working Group
http://www.ewg.org/reports/bpaformula

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Commercial hospital discharge packs are one of several factors that influence breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. The distribution of these packs to new mothers at hospitals is part of a longstanding marketing campaign by infant formula manufacturers and implies hospital and staff endorsement of infant formula. Commercial hospital discharge pack distribution should be reconsidered in light of its negative impact on exclusive breastfeeding.

Kenneth D. Rosenberg, Carissa A. Eastham, Lauren Kasehagen, and Alfredo P. Sandoval, Oregon Public Health Division
Infant Formula Marketing Through Hospitals: the Impact of Commercial Hospital Discharge Packs on Breastfeeding
AmJPublicHealth published January 2, 2008, 10.2105/AJPH.2006.103218 http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2006.103218v1

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"Formula feeding is the longest lasting uncontrolled experiment lacking informed consent in the history of medicine."

Frank Oski, M.D., founder of the journal Contemporary Pediatrics
http://www.kellymom.com/writings/breastfeeding/bfquotes.html

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The truth is, breastfeeding is nothing more than normal. Artificial feeding, which is neither the same nor superior, is therefore, deficient, incomplete, and inferior.
[The mother] is less likely to use artificial milk just "to get him used to a bottle" if she knows that the contents of that bottle cause harm.

"Watch your language!":http://www.motherchronicle.com/watchyourlanguage.html
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC
July-August edition of CCL
Family Foundations, 1996

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"The risk of developing either diarrhea or ear infection increased as the amount of breast milk an infant received decreased."

A Longitudinal Analysis of Infant Morbidity and the Extent of Breastfeeding in the United States.1997. Paula D. Scariati, Laurence M. Grummer-Strawn and Sara Beck Fein. Pediatrics 99(6):e5 (Electronic Article)
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/ab-infan.html

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"Existing guidelines and regulations for evaluating the safety of conventional food ingredients (e.g., vitamins, minerals) added to infant formulas have worked well in the past; however, they are not sufficient to address the diversity of potential new ingredients proposed by manufacturers to develop formulas that mimic human milk and do not adequately address the uniqueness of infants and infant nutrition."

INFANT FORMULA: EVALUATING THE SAFETY OF NEW INGREDIENTS. REPORT BRIEF— MARCH 2004
Infant Formula: Evaluating the Safety of New Ingredients is available for sale from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth St. NW, Washington, DC 20001; call (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area), or visit the NAP's on-line bookstore at http://www.nap.edu. For more information about the Institute of Medicine, visit the IOM home page at http://www.iom.edu.

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"The practice of feeding babies infant formula, rather than breastmilk carries with it profound risks in modern, industrialized countries, as well as, in developing countries. While many are familiar with the well-publicized tragedies of formula-fed infants in developing countries, many are unaware of how the lack of breastmilk and the use of infant formula compromise the health and well being of children in the United States. These risks are well documented in the medical literature."

Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles. The Risks of Infant Formula Feeding: Selling Out Mothers and Babies - Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in the USA. 2003.
http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/ABMRisks.htm
http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/resources/selling-usa.htm

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Warning: Public health officials have determined that not breast-feeding may be hazardous to your baby's health.

Breast-Feed or Else By RONI RABIN
The New York Times June 13, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/13/health/13brea.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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"...routine artificial feeding - as distinct from an exceptional emergency nutrition intervention - is the height of society-wide irresponsibility."

James Akre, 2006 The Problem with Breastfeeding; A personal reflection, Hale Publishing, TX 2006