Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Breastfeeding Facts

  
  • Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
  • The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs
  •     Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)
  •     Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
  •     Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
  •     Reduced risk of childhood diabetes
  •     Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning),
  •     Protection against allergies,   asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease
  •     Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.
  •     Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn's disease and ulcerative entercolits
  •     Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)
  •     Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech,  straighter teeth and enhances vision.
  •     Breastfed infants develop higher IQ's, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18.  (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development...there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))
  •     Reduced risk of heart disease later in life
  •     Increased bone density
  •     Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual  development of babies
  •     Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers   
  •     Antibody response to vaccines are higher
  •     Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life
  •     The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby's blood
  •     Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia
  •     Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis
  •     There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus....and many others
  •     Less risk of childhood obesity

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