Exclusive Breastfeeding: The First 6 Months

During the first 6 months of a baby's life, breast really is best. While this seems obvious to many mothers (yes, intuition and instinct is still alive and well for many moms), it really is news to many. Even nurses and doctors have recommended feeding infants rice cereal and other foods starting at 3-4 months of age. Yet as the research emerges, it is hard to argue that this recommendation should be continued.

The journal Pediatrics published a study done in the Netherlands in 2010 that looked at exclusive breastfeeding for various lengths of time. The results are clear: 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding led to a "significant reduction of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in infants," as well as reduced the number of infections for the next 6 months of life. The entire study can be read by visiting this link.

According to the Center for Disease Control's 2009 data, only one-third of mothers are exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months in the United States. By 6 months, only 14% of mothers are exclusively breastfeeding. To see data state-by-state, visit the CDC's website.

Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as giving only breastmilk (no formula, food, juice, or water) to an infant. Exclusive breastfeeding does include giving breastmilk that has been pumped using a breast-pump. Breastmilk contains ALL of the nutrients an infant needs during his or her first 6 months of life. It also contains precious antibodies passed on from the mother. That means that if a mother has built up antibodies in her system to that nasty cold everyone around town is getting ... her baby is most likely going to be protected. It also means protection from serious infections that cause diarrhea and pneumonia, the two leading causes of infant mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 1 million child deaths could be prevented each year by following the recommended 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. Visit WHO's website for more information.

Science aside, I can attest that as a mother, exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months offers many other benefits to mother and child. Each time an infant suckles at her mother's breasts, oxytocin (the love and bonding hormone) is released into the mother's bloodstream. Oxytocin is not only responsible for feelings of intimacy and love, but also help a mother feel more calm and relaxed. And what new mother couldn't use more of THAT? It also allows for hours of quiet time spent together - offering a place of refuge and quiet for both mom and baby.

While it has become somewhat "un-PC" or "controversial" to talk about the benefits of breastfeeding out of fear of hurting a mother's feelings that either cannot or choose not to breastfeed - I strongly believe that we must continue talking about and encouraging breastfeeding whenever possible. I recognize and understand that not every mother will physiologically be able to breastfeed her child. For those women, formula is a wonderful alternative. Yet many mothers that can are choosing not to breastfeed - often times due to lack of knowledge or convenience. I have known several mothers that stated they had to give formula because they did not produce enough milk, stating they were having to breastfeed every 3 hours or less. Unfortunately for these women, they did not understand that breastfeeding every 2-3 hours is normal ... and that their bodies were producing enough milk. But lack of knowledge caused them to stop breastfeeding. This is unacceptable. Women MUST be informed.

Additionally, the United States has become an overly-sexed culture that often views the woman's breast as merely a sexual object. While this is certainly one function of a woman's breast, it is most certainly not the only function (and I would argue, most definitely not the most important one, either!). We live in a culture where it is okay to have women parade around in underwear (or less) on prime-time television, yet it has not been okay to expose a breast to feed a child. In recent years, most states have passed laws that allow women to breastfeed in public (and sometimes private) locations. While I am grateful that women are finally being protected so that they can feed their children, the fact that we even had to pass these laws speaks volumes about our nation's attitude toward breastfeeding.

I encourage everyone to become a supporter of breastfeeding mothers! Encourage friends and family by sending them information from the above websites. Start conversations. Express support whenever possible. Let's change the attitude toward breastfeeding in our nation, so that when Little Bear is old enough to have her own children, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is considered the norm - and not the exception.