Benefits of Breast Feeding: Doctors Urge Six Months Only Breast Feeding to Avoid Allergies Eczema and Asthma

Women should be breast feeding their babies for the first six months without adding any solid foods or formula, say the experts, including the World Health Organization and the Canadian Pediatric Society.

The latest guidelines replace previous advice that moms could add solid foods or formula to their babies' diet along with breastfeeding at four to six months.

Why Only Milk for Baby in the First Six Months?

Breast milk is rich in an immunoglobulin called secretory IGA, which acts as a protective paint, coating the intestines and keeping food allergens out of the bloodstream.

Compared to formula-fed babies, breastfed babies enjoy health benefits such as:

• fewer digestive problems

• fewer ear infections

• fewer allergies

Why? Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight off illness. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months offers increased protection against gastrointestinal infections that can cause diarrhea.

Higher IQ and Heart Disease Protection as Adults

• Breast fed babies are also better off than bottle-fed babies in heart disease risk factors as adults, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association:

Adults who were breast fed had lower BMI (body mass index) on average, and had higher HDL (good) cholesterol than their bottle-fed counterparts. Having a higher HDL and lower BMI is considered to protect against cardiovascular disease such as stroke and heart attack. (N. Parikh of Beth Isreal Deaconess medical Center in Boston)

Moms Urged To Breastfeed Longer

• Studies have shown that breast milk alone in an infant's first half-year of life confers increased health benefits for a longer period, said Dr. Margaret Boland, chair of the Canadian Pediatric Society's nutrition committee.

"Breast feeding means not having mothers give babies infant cereal at four months, extending the period where the baby's sole source of nutrition is breast milk," says Dr. Boland.

"This excludes formulas and all solids -- cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, any of the complementary infant foods."

"When you introduce other food into the diet, you change some of the absorption of nutrients that babies get from their food," she explains, saying that cereals are not sterile and may introduce micro-organisms into the infant's system.

The Canadian Pediatric Society now says that along with introducing babies to solid foods no earlier than six months, breast feeding can continue for up to two years and beyond.

Doctors are struggling to get women to extend their duration of breastfeeding, according to Dr. Boland. Less than 20% of mothers are now breast feeding for 6 months because women are bombarded with the commercialization of everything, which says if you're a modern mom, you're going to bottle feed.

Why Delay Introducing Solid foods?

Even if breast feeding and you feed your infant solid foods (especially those containing protein, such as wheat, soy, and dairy) before the intestinal lining is mature, food allergens can seep into the bloodstream, causing baby to build up antibodies to those allergens and later become allergic to those foods.

• When you do start solids, introduce the least allergic (lowest protein) foods first, such as fruits, vegetables, and rice. Make citrus fruits the last fruits you introduce.

• Wait until at least eighteen months before introducing potentially-allergic foods, such as egg whites, tomatoes, shellfish e.g. shrimp, and peanut butter .

• Delay introducing cow's milk products until at least a year of age.

By twelve months of age, your child's intestines are mature enough to screen out most of the food allergens, to prevent food allergies. Find out about making a plan for Toddlers Eating Healthy

Baby's Intestines Need to Mature

In the early months, this filtering system is immature. As a result, allergens can enter the blood stream, causing the immune system to produce antibodies to that food, thereby creating a food allergy.

Breastfeeding is still best between four and seven months when a baby's intestinal lining goes through a developmental growth spurt called "closure," meaning the intestinal lining becomes more selective about what to let through.

By six to seven months of age your baby is able to filter out more of the offending allergens.

This is why breast feeding is particularly important to delay solids if there is a family history of food allergy, and especially to delay the introduction of foods to which other family members are allergic.

Breast Feeding Problems?

• Many babies don’t “latch” easily or at all, and it is often a learning process for all.

• How do you know you have enough milk? Breast fed babies may even be smaller and may not fit your doctor’s “normal” growth curve, but they are healthier and stronger. If you have problems, don’t give up!

• Get a lactation consultant to help, or use:

• Dr. Jack Newman’s CD, A Visual Guide to Breastfeeding

• Find out from the LA LECHE LEAGUE for nursing mothers if there is a local leader or a support group, or get one of the following books by the experts or by mothers who have gone through it all.

Resources for Pregnancy and Healthy Babies

Comprehensive Problem-Solution Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America The Latch and Other Keys to Breastfeeding Success by Dr Newman The Breast feeding Answer Book by Nancy Mohrbacher Breast feeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers Working without Weaning: A working Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Kirsten Berggren The Breastfeeding Café: Mothers Share the Joys, Challenges, and Secrets of Nursing by Barbara L. Behrmann

Shower and Baby Gifts

Nursing Mom Yogi Tea Lullaby CD Rocking Chair: Shermag Deluxe Glider and Ottoman Combo Sweet Pea Scrap Book On A Starry Night Lullaby CD Baby Memory Book

Pregnancy: Breast Feeding Benefits for Best Child Health, IQ and Preventing Food Allergies Eczema & Asthma

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