Natural Family Planning International

Leukemia and lymphoma comprise 40% of all cancers in children. Ever breastfeeding category was associated with a 64% decreased risk for childhood leukemia/lymphoma.  “Ever” breastfeeding means breastfeeding of any kind, whether it be partial or exclusive.  (Nutrition and Cancer, August-September 2016)

Breastfeeding can protect newborns, especially the ones born prematurely, from infections.  Researchers found that a manufactured form of lactoferrin, a naturally occurring protein in breast milk, can help protect premature infants from a type of staph infection. Lactoferrin virtually eliminated the germ that causes a staph infection known as staphylococcus epidermidis. (Journal of Pediatrics, August 2016)

This study found that lactation is associated with lower postpartum blood pressure among overweight women who develop gestational hypertension but not among women who develop preeclampsia. (American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, August 2016)

Breastfed babies are less likely to develop meningitis. A type of sugar found naturally in some women’s breast milk may protect newborn babies from infection with a potentially life threatening bacterium called Group B streptococcus. These bacteria are a common cause of meningitis in newborns and the leading cause of infection in the first three months of life globally.  The presence of sugars found in human breast milk allows the “friendly” bacteria to flourish and out-compete any harmful bacteria that may be in the child’s gut. (Clinical & Translational Immunology, August 26, 2016)

Among extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, not being fed predominantly human milk is associated with an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Efforts to support milk production by mothers of ELBW infants may prevent infant deaths and reduce costs.  (Journal of Pediatrics, August 2016)

Among women diagnosed and treated for primary breast cancer, those who gave birth and breastfed for longer than 6 months had better breast cancer survival compared to women who didn’t give birth or breastfed for shorter periods of time. (Breastfeeding Medicine, August 2016)

Sheila  Kippley

Feeding at the breast may be advantageous compared with expressed milk feeding for reducing the risk of otitis media.  Researchers found one month of feeding at the breast was associated with a 4% reduction in the odds of ear infection and a 17% reduction in the odds for infants fed at the breast for six months of infancy. Additionally, they found breast-milk feeding lowered the risk of diarrhea as compared to formula. (Journal of Pediatrics, July 2016)

A study found that children who received more breast milk during their first 28 days of life had more gray matter at various locations within the brain at the age of 7, compared to those who received less breast milk.  Seven-year-olds who were breastfed more in their first month of life also scored significantly higher on tests of IQ, working memory, math and motor skills. The paper adds to a growing body of evidence that babies who are breastfed generally score higher on cognitive tests. (Journal of Pediatrics, July 2016)

This study of 926 preterm infants provides the first evidence of a beneficial association between breast milk and cardiac morphology and function in adult life.  It supports the promotion of human milk for the care of preterm infants to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk. (Journal of Pediatrics, July 2016)

Neonates with specific gastrointestinal (GI) disorders who received a 100% breast-milk diet had a hospital length of stay shorted by an average of 10 and 13.5 days compared to those two groups who received diets that included formula. (Breastfeeding Medicine, July 19, 2016)

Some 77 million newborns – or 1 in 2 – are not put to the breast within an hour of birth, depriving them of the essential nutrients, antibodies and skin-to-skin contact with their mother that protect them from disease and death.  Breast milk is the baby’s first vaccine for protection against illness and disease.  Newborns account for half of all deaths of children under five.  If all babies globally were fed nothing but breast milk from the moment of birth until they are six months old, over 800,000 lives would be saved each year.  The longer breastfeeding is delayed, the higher the risk of death in the first month of life. Delaying breastfeeding by 2-23 hours after birth increases the risk of dying in the first 28 days of life by 40 per cent. Delaying it by 24 hours or more increases that risk to 80 per cent. (UNICEF, New York, July 29, 2016)

Sheila Kippley

Researchers found that three specific types of antibodies are present in breast milk and promote peace between the immune system and common gut-dwelling bacteria by putting the damper on inflammatory responses.   The top researcher said:  “This study provides real evidence that breast milk is important for a newborn’s health.  Breastfeeding helps to instruct the newborn’s immune system on how to appropriately respond to non-pathogenic bacteria, many of which may reside in the gut for a lifetime.”  (Cell, May 5, 2016)

Six months of exclusive breastfeeding will save lives.  For every 1000 births, 128 Nigerian children die before their fifth birthday.  Breastfeeding can reduce child mortality by 12%. (Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre training session, May 2016)

Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of childhood-acquired heart disease in developed countries. However, the etiology of KD is not known.  The researchers observed protective effects of breastfeeding on the development of KD during the period from 6 to 30 months of age in a nationwide, population-based, longitudinal survey in Japan, the country in which KD is most common. (Journal of Pediatrics, June 2016)

Babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months are 56% less likely to have conduct disorders by ages 7-11 compared to those infants exclusively breastfed for less than 1 month.  (PLOS Medicine, June 21, 2016)

Sepsis is the most common cause of neonatal mortality. It is responsible for about 30%-50% of the total neonatal deaths in developing countries.  It is estimated that up to 20% of neonates develop sepsis which is largely preventable by the early initiation of breastfeeding.  Infant deaths can be reduced by 22% by initiating breastfeeding within one hour after childbirth.  (International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research, June 2016)

Sheila Kippley