by Geri
Davis, RN, IBCLC
A few years
ago a mother and father took my breastfeeding class. They had
formula-fed their other children. When I asked them why they
decided to breastfeed this time, the father said, "I read that
there are over 100 more things in breast milk than in formula and
figured that if it had that many more things in it, it has to be
the best for our baby!" The mother ended up breastfeeding for a
year. When I saw her later, she told me that her formula fed
children had always been sick more than her breastfed child. She
didn't have to read the research; she knew from her experience
that breast milk made her child healthier.
It costs our society
to formula feed babies. We can save an estimated 1.3 billion
healthcare dollars per year by doing one thing: Encourage
breastfeeding. Breastfed infants have more of the cellular
building blocks to make their immune system respond to virus
infections like RSV, and influenza. A study by Ball and Wright
looked at just three illnesses - lower respiratory tract
infections, otitis media (ear infections) and gastrointestinal
illness (stomach and digestive tract). There were 2033 excess
office visits, 212 excess days of hospitalization, and 609 excess
prescriptions for every 1000 formula fed infants. This costs the
managed health system $331 to $475 for every formula-fed infant.
Nature has provided all we need to grow a baby. At no other
time in life is a single food adequate as the sole source of
nutrition. Human milk is species specific and is living tissue.
Breast milk has living cells that protect the baby from attack by
bacteria. It makes antibodies to viruses the mother is exposed to
so that the baby is also protected from the virus. Breast milk
encourages growth of lactobacillus bifidus bacteria - the good
bacteria in the gut - that inhibits overgrowth of yeast and
aids in digestion.
There are thousands of micronutrients found in human milk. The
hormones in human milk provide a role in supporting infant growth
and development. They also help mature the nervous system, immune
system and the GI tract. . Breastfeed for a smarter child? Yes -
the fats in breast milk help with brain growth - that's why
studies show higher IQ scores in breastfed children Studies also
show that formula fed babies are more likely to be obese as
adolescents and adults. The Colorado Physical Activity and
Nutrition Program is working toward lowering obesity of
Coloradoans and are partnering with the Pueblo Breastfeeding
Coalition to increase breastfeeding rates in Southern Colorado.
Human milk has a dynamic nature and varies with time of the
nursing and what the mother eats. The flavors of the food the
mother eats flavor the milk she produces. Isn't that great? A
baby gets to taste different foods and have flavored milk all the
time. Formula only comes in one flavor. How's that broccoli
tasting?
The Parkview's Milky Way Breastfeeding Center is available to
all families who want information about breastfeeding, help with
breastfeeding difficulties, and support and encouragement. In
fact, two International Board Certified Lactation Consultants on
staff help patients begin to breastfeed in the hospital, make
follow-up calls the first week and also have a clinic for out
patient visits - for moms and babies who are having difficulties.
The Milky Way also sponsors a breastfeeding mom & baby group
called Nature's Nourishment. This group of moms and babies meets
twice a month to support and encourage each other and to learn
more about breastfeeding, parenting and nutrition. During World
Breastfeeding Week (Aug 1-7), Nature's Nourishment hosted a
Beautiful Breastfed Baby Bowl-a-thon that raised money for the
Breast Pump Program - this pays for the rental of a medical-grade breastpump for moms who need one and can't afford it.
We teach a combination breastfeeding and childbirth class in
which teens learn why and how to breastfeed their babies as well
as life skills which serve them well for the rest of their lives.
A gift of a baby sling is given to each teen mom at the end of
class. We feel that by keeping their baby close - holding them
close - their baby will form a deeper attachment to them.
Parkview Medical Center is committed to supporting all
breastfeeding mothers, including both patients and employees. We
have an Employee Lactation Program in which employees are
encouraged to breastfeed their babies. Employees are given
adequate breaks to privately pump their breasts, medical-grade
pumps are available for employees to use when at work. The
Parkview Auxiliary provided funds to purchase the Lactina pumps
and give a $50 certificate to employees to purchase breastfeeding
supplies from the Milky Way Breastfeeding Center. Research shows
that employees who breastfeed their babies are absent form work
less and more productive because their baby is healthy.
All in all, breastfeeding leads to healthier, happier babies,
it saves money ensures more productive employees and just makes
sense.
For more information, call the Milky Way Breastfeeding Center
at Parkview at 719-584-4581.
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