Bekah McClain

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom and Baby

Breastfeeding has been taboo since nearly the beginning of time, however talking about

breastfeeding is the first step in making the topic less taboo and more mainstream. It is vital that

information on breastfeeding becomes mainstream. Babies are born all over the world to all

different kinds of families, mothers, financial situations and educational statuses. I am

investigating the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby, along with some situations

that may hold a mother back from breastfeeding her baby. Breastfeeding is recommended for a

variety of reasons, but most importantly it is because breastfeeding is the only way for a baby to

get all of their necessary nutrients; many formulas have come close to synthesizing the nutrients

that a mother’s milk provides, but have never been able to get it exactly right (Institute of

Medicine, 2004). There are many other important reasons to breastfeed, including bonding

between mom and baby, a shorter hospital stay (Briere, Brownell, Cong, Cusson, & McGrath,

2015), as well as future health benefits.

Unfortunately, the World Health Organization (WHO) found that worldwide, only 38%

of infants are breastfed (2013). There are many reasons why this number is so low. For more

developed countries, an absence of enforced workplace policies that encourage mothers to

breastfeed causes a lack in the number of moms breastfeeding. In less developed countries,

mothers are targeted by formula companies to use their product because they advertise to be

better for the baby. These mothers are often not educated on the nutritional and health benefits of

breast milk, and choose to use formula instead. I am interested in this topic because I want to go

into the medical field, and learning more about breastfeeding will positively impact my patients.
I believe that there is more to breastfeeding than what mothers are being taught, which is a

contributing factor to why the percentage of mothers that breastfeed worldwide is so low.

It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that a mother participates in

“exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby's life, followed by breastfeeding

in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and

continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.” (AAP, 2012,

p. e827). There are also different types of breastfeeding. Direct breastfeeding can be defined as a

baby having direct contact with the mother’s breast in order to be fed. There is also pumping,

which utilizes a machine to pump out breast milk that can later be used to feed the baby. This

method is often used when mothers are at work and need to pump milk for later, or for babies

who have a hard time latching. If a mother chooses to exclusively breastfeed, she is not giving

formula to her baby. While formula can be convenient for moms, it also does not provide all of

the nutrients and proteins that breastmilk does. Formula milk is nutritionally inferior because

human milk can never be fully synthesized. “Human milk is a complex body fluid that is variable

not only among individuals, but within an individual over time. In addition, it contains

components, such as live cells and bioactive compounds, that either cannot be added to formulas

or cannot survive a shelf life.” (Infant Formula, 2004, p. 42).

However many mothers breastfeed for a shortened amount of time and some choose to

not breastfeed at all. Numerous factors contribute to the decision (or possible inability) to not

breastfeed. There are many stigmas associated with breastfeeding that contribute to a decline in

the percentage of women that breastfeed. Some women can get harassed for breastfeeding in

public, causing them to feel hesitation to feed their baby. In the workplace a breastfeeding
woman can feel pressure from her coworkers to get back into the workplace. A private space that

cannot be disturbed, as well as adequate time to pump or breastfeed is important for a mother to

feel comfortable. Many constraints for working mothers come from a restricted workplace

environment with a lack of enforced policies. Legally, an employer must provide both adequate

break to breastfeed for the first year after having a baby as well as a secluded area to do so

(USBC, n.d.). However, there are still many women that do not feel comfortable breastfeeding in

the workplace. Around the world, various cultures have differing opinions towards breastfeeding

‒ for example in India, the colostrum that comes from the first days of breastfeeding is regarded

as “impure”, leading to the infants being bottle fed with formula for the first few days. This can

also impact what future generations may think of breastfeeding their babies. The lack of

education also negatively impacts mothers that want to breastfeed, but believe that they cannot

without harming their babies. For example, mothers that have HIV can spread HIV to their

babies through breastfeeding. Recent advancements in medications have been able to prevent

this spread (WHO, 2009). Unfortunately many of these mothers with HIV are either unaware of

this, or do not have the access to these medications.

There are many health benefits to breastfeeding, for both mom and baby. However, the

future health implications that breastfeeding brings to a baby’s life are vastly more significant

than those on their mothers. First, breast milk is the only complete source of nutrition specified

to an infant’s needs; two different types of proteins that protect against infections, lysozyme

which protects babies from contracting E. coli and lactose, which helps break down milk so the

baby better absorb calcium (American Pregnancy, 2017). Babies who are bottle fed also have a

higher risk of developing obesity. A study was conducted by acquiring medical records of babies
born 50 years prior to the study. They recorded whether they had been exclusively breastfed,

partially bottle fed or exclusively bottle fed. Then, they took the glucose levels of these subjects.

The study concluded that subjects who had been partially bottle fed or exclusively bottle fed had

a lower glucose level tolerance, which they attributed to a degree of insulin resistance (Barker,

Bleker, Osmond, Ravelli & Van der Meulen, 2000, p. 251).

Infants that are premature are often associated with longer hospital stays. A recently

performed study observed mothers who had premature babies, their feeding choices, and length

of hospital stay. Infants who had more days between direct breastfeeding and introduction of a

bottle left the hospital sooner than those who were not breastfed at their first oral feeding (Briere,

et al., 2015). This study also concluded that mothers in the NICU should be supported in

breastfeeding before using a bottle. Infants who are breastfed also form physical, emotional, and

mental connections with their mothers. “The physical closeness, ​skin​-to-skin touching, and ​eye

contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure” (WebMD, n.d.). The benefits of being

breastfed as an infant reaches all aspects of a child’s health, and more are being discovered every

year.

Mothers also gain both physical and emotional advantages from breastfeeding their baby.

While a woman is breastfeeding, her uterus contracts, assisting in recovery following delivery by

stopping bleeding sooner (American Pregnancy, 2017). A study of the occurrence of

endometriosis in women tracked how long a woman breastfed her children (adding together all

months spent breastfeeding, including multiple children), and whether or not they developing

endometriosis. The study concluded that the longer a woman breastfeeds in her lifetime, the less

likely she is to develop endometriosis, which means that by breastfeeding, a woman decreases
her risk of getting an incurable and painful disease (Eliassen et al., 2017). The study also showed

that women who did not breastfeed increased their risk of developing endometriosis. (Eliassen et

al., 2017).

The emotional benefits to mothers can include a greater connection with their child. A

study of Arab women both during pregnancy and postpartum measured each woman’s score on

the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and whether or not they breastfed their infants, as

well as the length in which they did (or did not) do so. They concluded that breastfeeding

contributes to a decreased risk of developing postpartum depression, and conversely postpartum

depression also decreases a mother's likelihood to breastfeed (Hamdan & Tamim, 2012).

Some of the constraints mentioned previously can be solved through advocacy for

solutions in a work environment. For example, many women feel pressured to breastfeed in a

“timely” manner so that they can get back to work. However, every woman will take different

amounts of time to breastfeed, and this can change from day to day. It is vital for employers to

express to breastfeeding employees that they do not need to feel rushed to get back to work while

they are feeding or pumping. This will allow the employees to feel more reassured and supported

in their decision to breastfeed. Another issue in the workplace is making sure that there is a

private space for mothers to pump or directly breastfeed that is not a restroom. Providing an

empty conference room would allow moms to feel more secure and comfortable, which could

also decrease the time it takes them to pump or feed. Lastly, breastmilk that has been pumped

should be kept refrigerated (Mayo Clinic, 2015), but not every woman has access to one within

their office muchless a place to discreetly store the milk. A mini refrigerator designated just for
storing breastmilk encourages mothers even more to feel better about breastfeeding in the

workplace.

Another common constraint for mothers is not being able to breastfeed without pain. A

lactation consultant can provide vital information to moms about the different methods for

breastfeeding, when to breastfeed, and other tips and tricks. This is especially important to

mothers whose culture is not necessarily pro-breastfeeding. Many women are raised to think this

act is taboo, painful, or even wrong (Team, T.B., 2017). Lactation consultants can bring both a

new perspective and new knowledge through educating their patients.

Breastfeeding provides physical and emotional benefits to mom and baby, both short and

long term. It is recommended to mothers for these reasons, along with many others. I believe that

educating future parents is vital in improving the worldwide percentage of breastfeeding

mothers. This can be done through improved workplace policies, lactation consultants, and more

in depth discussions between expecting mothers and their doctors about breastfeeding. In my

future career I will thoroughly educate my patients on why they should choose breastfeeding if it

is a viable option for them, while also providing any necessary resources for the mom and baby.
 Bibliography

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