Breastfeeding Essay -- Health, Nutrition

Through the years there has been a debate about whether babies should be fed exclusively on breastfeeding or not. One of the most difficult decisions for new mothers is to decide which diet to follow with her babies. Decisions include relying on the natural choices of breastfeeding or following the advice given by relatives, doctors, pediatricians and infant formula manufacturers. Controversies continue over the years. As many more mothers now want to nurse their babies, formula advocates claim that formula is equivalent to the real thing. Furthermore, supporters of supplemented infant formulas claim their products include the same elements present in mother’s milk plus and even will improve babies’ vision and cognitive behavior. This review aims to expose the benefits of breast milk over formula even for babies with special nutritional requirements. The World Health Organization (WHO) (2011a) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) (2008) recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life a recommends mothers to of developed and undeveloped countries to exclusively breastfeed infants for the child's first six months. Their recommendation seeks to achieve optimal growth, development and health for babies. After six months of age, the WHO recommends to complement breastfeeding with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods for up to two years of age or more. As well, the American Academy of Family Physicians (2008) promotes the promotion of breastfeeding among their members independently of their specialization. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics (2005) acknowledged the health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother, advising the mothers to continue breastfeedi... ...is more, Freudenheim (1994) reported that women who were breastfed as infants (even for short time), showed an approximate 25% lower risk of developing premenopausal or postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women who were bottle-fed as an infant. In order to take advantage of all the benefits of breastfeeding babies for longer periods of time, women should become educated of the advantages of breastfeeding. As well a good education about lactation will warrantee baby and mother will enjoy a longer and healthier breastfeeding period. Lately the World Health Organization (2011) concludes exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production. As well benefits for the breastfed infant continue even though lactation period is longer than the time recommended.