"The evidence outlined in the series, contributed by some of the leading experts in the field, leaves no doubt that the decision not to breast-feed has major long-term negative effects on the health, nutrition and development of children and on women's health."For background, read God Created Woman to Give Birth and Breast-feed
-- Cesar Victora, The Lancet series author, of Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil
"We want to encourage breastfeeding but I've also seen patients in tears who can't do it. This article makes it seem like developed countries, rich women, they should all be breastfeeding. But for working women, it's harder for them to breastfeed."
-- Dr. Jennifer Wu, obstetrician-gynecologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York
Also read Women Who Birth More Children Live Longer, Study Finds
-- From "Breastfeeding could Save 800,000 Infant Deaths and 20,000 Breast Cancer Deaths Worldwide: Study" by Sandra Hicks, The California Post 1/29/16
As per the study article published online Jan. 28 in The Lancet, the decrease in children's deaths is equivalent to 13% of all deaths in children younger than 2 years of age. The report finds that the current breast-feeding practices cost the world's economy hundreds of billions of dollars a year. Cesar Victora, of Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, said there is a widespread misconception that the benefits of breast-feeding only relate to poor countries. Nothing could be further from the truth. Victora added that the new study highlights the fact that breast-feeding saves lives and money in all countries, rich and poor alike.
. . . researchers said that breastfeeding increases children's intelligence and may protect them against obesity and diabetes later in life. For mothers, long-term breast-feeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Researchers estimated that poorer thinking skills among children who aren't breast-fed cost the global economy about $302 billion in 2012. The loss in high-income countries alone was $231 billion. Increasing breast-feeding rates for infants younger than 6 months to 90% in the United States, China and Brazil, and to 45% in the United Kingdom, would lower treatment costs of common childhood illnesses.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Worldwide Boost in Breast-Feeding Could Save 800,000 Lives: Study" posted at HealthDay News 1/28/16
Only one in five children in high-income countries is breast-fed for 12 months, the researchers said. And, only one in three children in low- and middle-income countries is exclusively breast-fed for the first 6 months.
Increasing breast-feeding rates for infants younger than 6 months to 90 percent in the United States, China and Brazil, and to 45 percent in the United Kingdom, would lower treatment costs of common childhood illnesses -- such as pneumonia, diarrhea and asthma. This could save health care systems about $2.5 billion in the United States, $29.5 million in the United Kingdom, $224 million in China and $6 million in Brazil, according to the study.
Despite the many benefits of breast-feeding, rates are low, especially in high-income countries, the study showed.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Study: Breastfeeding could save more than 800,000 lives a year" by Mary Brophy Marcus, CBS News 1/28/16
[Speaking about high-income countries, such as the United States, Dr. Jennifer Wu] said a six-week maternity leave from work makes it difficult to continue nursing for a full year.
"At six weeks, you barely have gotten breastfeeding on track. When you go back to work, breast milk goes down because you're away from the baby and can't breastfeed every two or three hours," said Wu.
She said some professions are particularly demanding. "If you're a teacher, it's really hard to find 30 minutes." There's not just time pumping, but setting up and cleaning breast pump equipment.
"There aren't many jobs where you can walk away from your job and do every few hours," Wu said. "In New York and elsewhere here in the U.S., we work very long workdays, maybe 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at night and with a commute that may extend the day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m."
She said waking up every few hours at night to breastfeed is difficult and women become sleep-deprived. "It's virtually impossible to breastfeed all night long and then work all the next day."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "New Research Shows That Breastfeeding Matters Everywhere and Could Save Millions of Lives and Dollars" by Werner Schultink, Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF (Huffington Post) 1/28/16
The leading medical journal The Lancet just released a new Series on Breastfeeding with remarkable new evidence on the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding. . . .
Now more than ever we know what needs to be done to support and enable mothers to breastfeed. With such compelling evidence, all of us, including governments, donors, development agencies, the research community, the private sector and civil society need to step up. Breastfeeding can be dramatically improved in a short period of time.
Low and middle income countries such as Burkina Faso, India, Malawi, Peru and Zambia, and high income countries such as Norway, Sweden and Finland, have shown that it is possible to maintain high breastfeeding rates or increase rates in a short period of time provided political commitment, strong policies and programs are in place.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Breastfeeding saves lives, boosts economies in rich and poor countries" by Catharine Paddock PhD, Medical News Today 1/29/16
The two-part [Lancet] series is the most detailed analysis of levels, trends and benefits of breastfeeding around the world.
In a podcast interview for the series, Prof. Victora says while we are only "beginning to scratch the surface," a lot of evidence is emerging about the biology of breastfeeding and the components and properties of breast milk.
He quotes a colleague who likens breast milk to "very exquisite personalized medicine" because it reflects the biological interaction between the mother and her child, "something that formula will never be able to imitate," he notes.
He says we are also beginning to understand that breast milk has epigenetic effects - that is, it influences the expression of genes that control cell activity and development. And, another recent discovery is that breast milk contains stem cells.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Breastfeeding Could Add $300 Billion Into The Global Economy" by News Staff, Science 2.0 1/29/16
The depth and breadth of the Breastfeeding Series included 28 systematic reviews and meta-analyses--22 commissioned specifically for the Series. In total, more than 1,300 studies were reviewed to provide the most exhaustive look at the benefits, determinants, and trends in breastfeeding to date.
According to Series co-lead, Dr. Nigel Rollins with the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health at the World Health Organization, "This new research demonstrates that breastfeeding results in improved child development, with huge economics gains for individuals, families, as well as at the national level."
For each of the first two years a mother breastfeeds over her lifetime, she decreases her risk of developing invasive breast cancer by six percent. She also benefits from reduced ovarian cancer risk.
Approximately 20,000 breast cancer deaths are prevented each year by breastfeeding; improved rates could prevent another 20,000 deaths each year.
Limited or nonexistent maternity leave. Short maternity leave (up to six weeks) increases the odds of not breastfeeding or stopping early by 400 percent;
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Doctors Say Abortion Causes Breast Cancer — Media Silent
