Palmetto State News

Dr. Meghan Jordan

McLeod Pediatric Associates of Florence – West

While breastfeeding is a natural thing, it does not always come naturally. Many new moms can find the process intimidating when they realize that it takes time for not only them to learn how to breastfeed, but it also takes time for the baby to learn how to breastfeed. I consult with many new moms, especially moms with their first baby who have never breastfed before, who are very stressed and nervous about breastfeeding. Mothers worry about possible pain or not making enough milk for the baby, especially early on while they are waiting for their milk to come in.

With breastfeeding, the most important thing, especially in those early weeks, is asking for help. Whether that is with a certified lactation consultant, which we have at McLeod, or your pediatrician, who also has a wealth of information to help regarding breastfeeding.

Breast milk is the recommended source of nutrition for both term and preterm newborns. Human milk has a large number of health benefits for babies, mothers, and our society as a whole. A mother’s milk should almost be considered a medication that could greatly benefit every newborn.

The benefits have great impact. For example, the death rate in infants between the ages of one month and one year are reduced by 21 percent in breastfed infants in the United States. Studies suggest decreased rates of:

• Sudden infant death syndrome
• Insulin-dependent (Type 1) diabetes
• Non-insulin dependent (Type 2) diabetes
• Asthma
• Lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Hodgkin’s disease
• Obesity
• Hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol and triglycerides)

Additionally, strong evidence exists that human milk feedings decrease the incidence and/or severity of a wide range of infectious diseases, including:

• Late-onset sepsis in preterm infants (a body-wide infection acquired later than 48 hours after birth, a major risk for premature infants)
• Necrotizing enterocolitis (death of internal tissue, a devastating complication of prematurity)
• Bacterial meningitis (meningitis caused by bacteria, a life-threatening condition)
• Bacteremia (bacteria in the blood)
• Respiratory tract infection
• Urinary tract infection
• Otitis media (ear infection)
• Diarrhea

There are also important health benefits of breastfeeding and lactation for mothers, including:

• Decreased postpartum bleeding and more rapid return of the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size (known as uterine involution) due to increased concentrations of oxytocin
• Decreased menstrual blood loss
• Earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight
• Decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer
• Possibly decreased risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis in the postmenopausal period

It is important for new mothers to realize that they all have individual breastfeeding goals; for instance, how long they want to breastfeed or how they want to do it. It is different for every new mom. Once a new mother has identified her specific goals, she should discuss them with her doctor or a lactation consultant and come up with a plan to reach those goals for her and her baby.

Dr. Meghan Jordan cares for patients at McLeod Pediatric Associates of Florence – West. For more information, please call (843) 777-9340.

Original source can be found here.