|
The US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher this has
released a comprehensive national plan entitled HHS
Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding to promote and increase
breast-feeding rates throughout the US. The report discusses current statistics,
some of the benefits of breastfeeding, and ways to increase the practice.
Of course, if it wasn't for the CRIMINAL
actions of the government and medical societies years ago telling women
how superior formula feeding was, most women would be breastfeeding today
and there would be no need for this report in the first place.
The plan focuses on:
- Education
- Counseling and support for new mothers
- Changes to the healthcare system
- Changes to the workplace
The plan makes several recommendations concerning
the healthcare system, the workplace, public education, childcare facilities
and infant formula marketing, such as:
-
Healthcare workers should be taught how to encourage
their patients to breast-feed
-
Enhanced hospital-based breastfeeding practices
such as allowing and encouraging babies to room-in with mothers
-
Women who return to work after childbirth should
have access to facilities to accommodate breast-feeding or "pumping"
- Encourage the media to portray breastfeeding is
a positive light
For more details and other recommendations made in
the plan, see the full
text of the Surgeon General's report, which is available online.
The main reason for the Surgeon General's plan is
the currently abysmally low number of breastfeeding women. Some of the
disturbing statistics cited in the report are:
-
Only 64% of US women even attempt to breast-feed
their babies
-
At 6 months, only a mere 29% are still breast-feeding
- Rates are especially low among poor women, and
among African Americans (only 19% still breast-feeding at 6 months)
These low figures are most surprising when you consider
all of the benefits of breastfeeding, some of which are cited by the report,
such as:
Resistance to Infectious
Disease - Many substances in human milk
are active against infection. Since the infant's immune system does not
fully mature until about 2 years of age. According to the report, research
shows that breastfeeding may reduce the incidence and severity of the
following conditions:
- Ear infections (otitis media)
- Respiratory tract infection
- Pneumonia
- Diarrhea
- Urinary infection
- Invasive bacterial infection
Enhanced Immune System
- It has been shown that breastfed babies produce enhanced immune response
to both vaccination and infection, as well as resulting in earlier development
of the immune system.
Nutritional and Growth
Benefits - For obvious reasons, human milk
has a nutritional profile that more closely matches the needs of babies,
than does the milk of any other species. For example, compared to cow's
milk, human milk:
Reduced Risk for Chronic
Diseases - Studies have shown evidence that
breastfeeding may reduce the incidence of certain chronic diseases, such
as:
- Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
- Childhood Cancer
- Celiac Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Allergies
- Asthma
Developmental Benefits
- There is some evidence that breastfeeding may enhance cognitive function
and improve visual acuity.
Improved Maternal Health
- Breastfeeding has several positive hormonal, physical, and psychosocial
effects on the mother. For example, breastfeeding:
-
Increases levels of the hormone oxytocin. This
can help to contract the uterus following birth and minimize blood
loss.
-
Delays the resumption of normal ovarian cycles
and the return of fertility following childbirth
-
Improves self-confidence and bonding with infant
- May reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian
cancer
Socioeconomic
Benefit - Breastfeeding has several socioeconomic benefits,
such as:
Tessa Martyn of the United Kingdom based advocacy
group Baby Milk Action (www.BabyMilkAction.org)
was kind enough to provide The
Optimal Wellness Center with some comments on the Surgeon
General's Report. The group is part of the International Baby Food Action
Network (IBFAN) - a coalition of more than 150 citizen and health worker
groups in more than 90 countries, that works for better child health and
nutrition through the promotion of breastfeeding and the elimination of
irresponsible marketing of infant foods, bottles and pacifiers.
While viewing the report very favorably, "as
we do anything which is genuinely trying to increase breastfeeding rates"
she notes one disagreement with the report's recommendations. The report
recommends that women who are HIV positive should not breastfeed. As a
matter of fact, this may be much more than a simple recommendation as
in the United States some HIV-positive mothers have been ordered by the
courts to refrain from breastfeeding or have their newborn babies taken
into custody.
"We feel it is the right of these mothers to
be fully informed about the risks and benefits of both breastfeeding and
artificial feeding, and then free to make infant feeding decisions which
will be supported by health professionals," she states. The group,
Baby Milk Action, can be reached
at info@babymilkaction.org.
"Low breast-feeding rates documented in the Blueprint
for Action are a serious public health challenge, particularly in certain
minority communities," Surgeon General Satcher said. "With scientific
evidence indicating that breast-feeding can play an important role in
infant's health, the time has come for us to work together to promote
optimal breast-feeding practices."
The HHS
Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding can be found at the National
Women's Health Information Center at www.4woman.gov
or call toll-free at 1-800-994-WOMAN.
| 