Breastfeeding is not only a lifestyle choice, but also an important health choice for both mother and baby, so relevant health departments support breastfeeding.
In 200 1 year, the World Health Organization suggested that exclusive breastfeeding within 6 months is the best way to feed babies. After the baby added complementary food, they advised the mother to continue breastfeeding until she was two years old or longer. 1997, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement that breast milk should be the first choice food for all newborns. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months after birth without adding any complementary food; In addition, breastfeeding should last at least 12 months or be decided by mutual consent of mother and baby. The following are some reasons why the International Breastfeeding Association and health care institutions think breastfeeding is very important.
Protect the baby from disease.
The frequency and severity of breast-fed children suffering from colds, otitis media, upper respiratory tract infections and even chronic diseases (such as asthma) are significantly reduced. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from diarrhea, other gastrointestinal diseases, pneumonia, septicemia, gastroenteritis, meningitis and some childhood cancers. Due to the decrease in the frequency and severity of the above diseases, the number of times breast-fed babies go to see a doctor decreases.
From birth to early adulthood, they all show high IQ.
Studies have shown that the IQ gap between breast-fed children and formula-fed children in infancy is as high as 5 to 10. Mortensen's research report mentioned in the note compares a series of studies on intelligence, which integrate other possible influencing factors, such as parents' education level, whether mothers smoke or not, and the birth weight of babies. Recently, it has been recognized that the naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in breast milk and their roles in infant brain development may be a factor leading to the above-mentioned intelligence differences.
Dose response: The more breast-feeding, the more protection it provides.
When the baby is completely breastfed, breastfeeding provides the greatest disease protection for the baby. This protection gradually decreases as the amount of complementary food (including formula milk, milk or other foods) received by infants increases. The longer you breastfeed, the more protection your baby gets. Scientific research calls this effect "dose response". Breast-feeding has a dose response to the following conditions: childhood leukemia and lymphoma, otitis media, respiratory infection, diarrhea, Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), obesity and overweight, reaching an important index of growth and development.
Promote the development of infant immune system
Breast milk contains immunoglobulin, white blood cells and anti-inflammatory factors, which is helpful to the maturity of the immune system after the baby is born. Breast milk produced in the first few days after birth is rich in immune factors. Secretory immunoglobulin A(IgA) is an active molecule in breast milk, which can reduce the risk of acute gastrointestinal diseases in breast-fed infants. Immunoglobulin A(IgA) in breast milk can also stimulate the infant's immune system to produce more secreted immunoglobulin A(IgA). Breast milk's promotion of infant's immune system will continue to protect children even after weaning.
Breast milk can kill cancer cells and other bacteria.
Under laboratory conditions, it is found that substances in breast milk can kill cancer cells in lung, throat, kidney, rectum and bladder, as well as lymphoma cells, leukemia cells and pneumococcus. Other researchers have observed similar results under laboratory conditions: breast milk can kill or neutralize chlamydia spores, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and some kinds of bacteria. The research results of breast milk function provide help for researchers to develop new treatment methods for diseases.
Breastfeeding is beneficial to family and society.
Breastfeeding reduces the economic pressure on families and society. In addition to the advantage of free breast milk, breastfeeding can also reduce the family's expenditure on medical care. A study in the United States shows that according to the length of breastfeeding, each family can save 200-800 dollars (about 1600-6400 yuan).
When low-income mothers choose breastfeeding, social resources used to help those in need can be used for a longer time. . When babies are breast-fed, mothers and babies will be healthier all their lives. Breastfeeding has improved public health and reduced the economic pressure on hospitals, insurance companies and government-subsidized projects.
Breastfeeding is good for the environment.
Breastfeeding does not consume metal, paper and plastic, and there is no energy demand for manufacturing, packaging and transporting formula milk and feeding equipment. Because breast milk can be absorbed more fully by babies, breast-feeding babies reduces pollution and waste disposal problems. In addition, studies have shown that exclusive breastfeeding provides natural contraception. Although we live in a polluted world, scientists still agree that breast milk is the most ideal source of nutrition for babies, and it can even protect babies from some pollution.