By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A recent study has found that the lives of nearly 1,000 babies a year could be saved if 90 percent of U.S. women breast fed their babies for the first six months of life.
According to FoxNews.com, a study published today in the journal Pediatrics estimates that hundreds of U.S. infants could be spared death or other costly illnesses if they had received the many benefits associated with breast feeding for the first six months of life.
“The health care system has got to be aware that breast-feeding makes a profound difference,” said Dr. Ruth Lawrence, who heads the American Academy of Pediatrics’ breast-feeding section.
The study found that among the many conditions that breast feeding may prevent include stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and even childhood leukemia. The reason is because breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight infections. It can also affect insulin levels in the blood, which may make breast-fed babies less likely to develop diabetes and obesity.
“The methods were similar to a widely cited 2001 government report that said $3.6 billion could be saved each year if 50 percent of mothers breast-fed their babies for six months,” Fox reports. “Medical costs have climbed since then and breast-feeding rates have increased only slightly.”
Presently, about 43 percent of U.S. mothers breast-feed their infants all or at least sometimes for six months after giving birth, but only 12 percent follow government guidelines recommending that babies receive only breast milk for six months.
Pediatricians believe the evidence is compelling enough to strive for 90 percent compliance, even though they are quick to say that mothers shouldn’t be blamed for finding this requirement difficult due to the demands of their jobs or other circumstances.
“We’d all love as pediatricians to be able to carry this information into the boardrooms by saying we all gain by small changes at the workplace” that encourage breast-feeding, said Dr. Larry Gray, pediatrician at the University of Chicago.
The new health care reform law requires large employers to provide private places for working mothers to express milk.
Hospitals may also be required to change their practices. A provision enacted April 1 by a hospital accrediting agency will encourage hospitals to ensure that newborns are fed only breast milk before they’re sent home.
“Hospital practices need to change to be more in line with evidence-based care,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Melissa Bartick of Harvard Medical School. “We really shouldn’t be blaming mothers for this.”
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