Breastfeeding

The article entitled “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk” was published on February 2nd, 2012 in Pediatrics: Official Journal of the Academy of Pediatrics. The article is accredited through the American Academy of Pediatrics, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other prestigious organizations. This article covers the viewpoints of major healthcare organizations and advisors about the pros and cons of breastfeeding. It is clearly demonstrated throughout the article that breastfeeding is a major health benefit not only to the newborn, but to the mother as well. It is also apparent that there are numerous benefits to breastfeeding and that it is highly recommended for a period of the newborns crucial first year.
For the first six months of the infant’s life it is recommended for the mother’s milk to be the sole source of sustenance. After that period other food sources may be introduced. The infant however, should be breastfed for at least the first year of its life. After that, it is at the discretion of the mother for how much longer breastfeeding is necessary, but breastfeeding for the first year increases the child’s chance for survival as well as decreases the risk for multiple diseases. Some risks associated with not breastfeeding include: asthma, obesity, diabetes, and even leukemia and sudden infant death syndrome. Breastfeeding for the first three to four months has shown correlation to lowering risks of asthma, eczema, and other allergies. Breastfeeding also seems to connect to obesity in later adulthood. It is shown that people who were breastfed during infancy were much less likely to be obese later in life. For diabetes breastfeeding seems to lower risks by about 30%. More serious diseases like leukemia and SIDS can even be linked to breastfeeding. There is about a 15-20% reduction for leukemia after breastfeeding for a six month duration or longer. Breastfeeding is also able to lower the