Study: Breast-feeding would save lives, money

This article speaks for itself. I've copied it here and posted the link to the original Associated Press publication as well as other breastfeeding sites below.

by LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer - Mon Apr 5, 10:53 AM PDT

CHICAGO - The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90 percent of U.S. women fed their babies breast milk only for the first six months of life, a cost analysis says.

Those startling results, published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics, are only an estimate. But several experts who reviewed the analysis said the methods and conclusions seem sound.

"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 findings suggest that there are hundreds of deaths and many more costly illnesses each year from health problems that breast-feeding may help prevent. These include stomach viruses, ear infections,asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and even childhood leukemia.

The magnitude of health benefits linked to breast-feeding is vastly underappreciated, said lead author Dr. Melissa Bartick, an internist and instructor at Harvard Medical School. Breast-feeding is sometimes considered a lifestyle choice, but Bartick calls it a public health issue.

Among the benefits: Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight infections; it also can affect insulin levels in the blood, which may make breast-fed babies less likely to develop diabetes and obesity.

The analysis studied the prevalence of 10 common childhood illnesses, costs of treating those diseases, including hospitalization, and the level of disease protection other studies have linked with breast-feeding.

The $13 billion in estimated losses due to the low breast-feeding rate includes an economists' calculation partly based on lost potential lifetime wages — $10.56 million per death.

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. Medical costs have climbed since then and breast-feeding rates have increased only slightly.

About 43 percent of U.S. mothers do at least some breast-feeding for six months, but only 12 percent follow government guidelines recommending that babies receive only breast milk for six months.

Dr. Larry Gray, a University of Chicago pediatrician, called the analysis compelling and said it's reasonable to strive for 90 percent compliance.

But he also said mothers who don't breast-feed for six months shouldn't be blamed or made to feel guilty, because their jobs and other demands often make it impossible to do so.

"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, Gray said.

Bartick said there are some encouraging signs. The government's new health care overhaul requires large employers to provide private places for working mothers to pump breast milk. And under a provision enacted April 1 by the Joint Commission, a hospital accrediting agency, hospitals may be evaluated on their efforts to ensure that newborns are fed only breast milk before they're sent home.

The pediatrics academy says babies should be given a chance to start breast-feeding immediately after birth. Bartick said that often doesn't happen, and at many hospitals newborns are offered formula even when their mothers intend to breast-feed.

"Hospital practices need to change to be more in line with evidence-based care," Bartick said. "We really shouldn't be blaming mothers for this."

http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_med_breast_feeding_savings.html

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Resources for Breastfeeding Mothers or

those interested in learning more

about the benefits of breastfeeding:

US Government Site - http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/

Personal Breastfeeding Support

(La Leche League International) - http://www.llli.org

Breastfeeding and Parenting - http://www.kellymom.com/

Dr. Sears expert pediatrician - http://www.askdrsears.com/

Sibling Adjustments

It has been a week now since Zena joined our family and our dynamic has been forever altered. I knew things would change, but I was never able to imagine which path our relationships would follow.

My oldest has truly embraced her role as big sister. She not only looks out for her baby sister but she has adopted a more patient and loving attitude toward her little brother. While sitting in my room, nursing Zena or “resting,” I’ll hear her playing or talking or soothing her baby brother and my heart aches with the love and pride I feel for my first baby girl. She definitely has my maternal instinct - in fact I’m beginning to feel her instinct is so deeply developed at the tender age of 7 that she will be an indomitable maternal force when she reaches adulthood. She even keeps an eye out for me, picking up empty coffee mugs and re-filling the depleted diapers in the changing basket. I simply marvel at her.

I am especially grateful for my mother’s presence over the last week. Without her aide in keeping my three year old son occupied I would never have been able to spend some quality “Mama Time” with my Big Girl. Most recently, my daughter and I were able to make my triple chocolate brownies - from scratch! (Look out for the recipe later this week!)

My mother has definitely taken up the slack in regard to my son. He adores her and relished the one on one attention she gives him which I am finding difficult to offer while this little one needs me so. My boy is definitely finding his new role as big brother a challenge. I hold him and kiss him as much as I can but learning patience and the need to “share Mama” is a difficult task. My mother, in her infinite wisdom was successful in halting his regression from potty training. That alone is a small miracle. The biggest challenge he and I face right now is his distract and delay tactics, most notably at bedtime. He used to be able to be reasoned with about doing things he didn’t really want to do - like getting dressed, brushing teeth and getting ready for bed. (Well, to perfectly honest here, clothes were always a challenge; he prefers his birthday suit.) It’s at these key times though that I know he needs me most. He is not ignoring me or purposefully being difficult, he just wants his mama, and I’m still trying to figure out how to meet his needs while taking care of Zena’s needs at the same time.

We are only a week into a lifetime of change, and that our lives will continually evolve and transform. However, it is interesting to see what a difference a week makes in the lives of siblings.

How did your children acclimate to a new family member? What challenges did you, as individuals, have to overcome?