May 15, 2004
Breast Milk: The Original Subsistence Food
by Grace Sourile, Registered Dietitian
Expecting parents have a lot to think about as they prepare for the birth of their baby. One of the most important decisions they make is how to feed their newborn. Breastfeeding is the healthiest and most natural choice for both mom and baby.
Breastfeeding is good for moms in many ways. Nursing a baby after birth helps the uterus return to its normal size, reducing the risk of hemorrhage. Breastfeeding also releases "mothering" hormones that can produce intense feelings of calm and wellbeing and help strengthen the bond being formed between mom and baby. The extra calories used to make milk will help a mom lose the extra weight she gained while pregnant, and studies have shown that women who breastfeed have a lower risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer later in life.
For babies, nothing compares to mother's milk for nutrition and other health benefits. Because breastmilk contains antibodies that protect baby against illness, breastfed babies tend to get sick less often than formula-fed babies. Breastmilk has just the right combination of nutrients needed by a baby, and is easy to digest. Breastfed babies are more likely to be just the right weight and are less likely to be overweight as older children. This may be partly due to hormones in breastmilk that make a baby feel full and satisfied, and not as likely to to overfeed. Babies who are breastfed have also been shown to have fewer allergies and higher IQ scores later in childhood than babies who are formula-fed.
Healthy babies who are breastfed do not need water or formula. Some moms worry that they won't produce enough milk for their baby, but almost every mom who breastfeeds often throughout the day (and during the night) has enough milk for her baby.
Formula isn't the best food for babies for many reasons. It doesn't have antibodies to protect babies against illness, and it doesn't have all the nutrients in it that breastmilk does. Breastfeeding moms who give their babies formula are more likely to have problems with low milk supply than moms who only breastfeed.
How long to breastfeed? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies breastfeed exclusively until they are six months old, then breastfeed with some addition of solid foods until they are at least 12 months old. If parents do plan to give formula to their baby in addition to breast milk, it's best to wait until the baby is older and breastfeeding is well established, around three months after birth.
If breastfeeding isn't going quite right, there are places moms can turn to for help. The YKHC WIC program has nutritionists Monday through Friday who can answer breastfeeding questions at 543-6459 or 1-800-764-6459. The OB unit at Yukon- Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital can answer breastfeeding questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The OB unit can be reached by calling the hospital operator at 543-6000 or 1-800-478-3321.
The WIC Clinic also offers a private room for breastfeeding or breast pumping, open to all YKHC employees and WIC clients. Pumping breast milk is a perfect way to continue feeding a baby breast milk after returning to work, and with a little practice, is easy to do. The WIC program can provide breastfeeding moms with electric double breastpumps (on loan) or manual breastpumps.