Breastfeeding Consequences

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Consequences for the Mother Mothers experience a variety of positive health consequences if they choose to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a catalyst for womb recovery and protects mothers against postnatal bleeding. Mothers can easily, and quickly, attain their original body weight from before their pregnancy by breastfeeding. Women who chose to exclusively breastfeed for at least three months run a lower risk of pre-menopausal cancer of the ovaries and of breast cancer. The risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis during the postmenopausal period have been known to lower (Advantages). Hormones are released as a woman breastfeeds which affects the mother’s rate of recovery and her menstruation cycle. It is believed that these factors are a part …show more content…
Formula-fed infants have more infections and hospitalizations than infants who are breastfed. While breastfeeding, immune molecules pass from the mother to the infant which strengthens the infant’s immune system (Breastfeeding). Breastfed infants are at a lesser risk of falling ill because they benefit from the antibodies passed through the mother's breast milk which assists the infants in building their immune systems. Formula lacks the mother’s antibodies, so the infant will take a longer period of time to strengthen their immune system since they will not have a stronger foundation from their mother. Case studies propose that formula feeding is connected to “1.6 to 2.1-fold” greater odds of SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, compared with breastfeeding. These associations would persist after sleeping position, maternal smoking, and socioeconomic status adjustments were made (Steube). SIDS is an unexplained death of an infant that people wish to avoid; however, by formula-feeding the infant is at a greater chance of passing of SIDS. Breastfed infants may still pass as a result of SIDS, but the risks of this transpiring are lower. Studies propose that formula-fed infants have an increased risk of diarrhea and gastroenteritis. In an analysis of fourteen cohort studies, Chien and Howie discovered that infants who were formula-fed or fed a mixture of formula and human milk were “2.8” times more likely to develop gastrointestinal (GI) infection than breastfed infants (Steube). Exclusively breastfed infants have a lower risk of obtaining GIs that would interfere with the health and the condition of the immune system that is not already fully developed. Formula-fed infants are at a greater risk for developing, or contracting, various health issues in comparison to breastfed