Breastfeeding: Overview
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Human milk is the ideal nutritional food during the first year of life for all infants, both term and pre-mature. It contains essential nutrients to support their growth and development.
The benefits of breastfeeding for the infant include:
- Antibodies (immune factors) that protect against infection, such as respiratory tract infections and ear infections
- Protection against gastrointestinal tract disorders, allergic diseases, obesity, diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome, childhood leukemia
- Reduced rates of child abuse and neglect
Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother include:
- More rapid involution (shrinkage) of the uterus
- Decreased bleeding after delivery and during the postpartum period
- Reduced postpartum depression
- Decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers
- Increased postpartum weight loss
- Decreased risk in development of type 2 diabetes
- Convenience and cost savings
- Fewer days of work missed due to a sick child
Breastfeeding mothers are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and refrain from tobacco use.
Contraindications to Breastfeeding
Some conditions of the mother and/or infant may make breastfeeding inadvisable, or contraindicated.
Maternal conditions that may preclude, or rule out, breastfeeding include:
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HIV-positive status,
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Human Y-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1)
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Untreated brucellosis
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Active tuberculosis
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Active herpes simplex lesions on the breasts (Expressed or pumped milk is acceptable.)
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Maternal active alcohol or substance (for example, marijuana) use
Although all medications appear in small amounts in breast milk, some maternal medications are contraindications for breastfeeding:
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Cancer drugs
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Radioactive agents
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Amphetamines (medications used to stimulate the central nervous system)
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Ergotamines (migraine medications)
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Statins (cholesterol medications)
Certain metabolic disorders of the infant may also preclude breastfeeding:
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Galactosemia
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Phenylketonuria
