Hi gang -
for those who remember me, I am the co-owner of parent-l,
a sort of lactnet "complement" ;) where mothers give support to mothers
on breastfeeding and parenting issues (as well as LCs, fathers,
grandmothers, friends, professionals of all sorts of flavours - mothers
mostly also)...

and we've had a curly one.

Can I please have some published info on the incidence of SIDS in
breastfed babies?

This was cited with the following comment....
"... No independent protective effect was identified from breast
feeding when we controlled for other significant factors.  ...
The lack of any 'dose response' effect from breast feeding
suggests that this is acting as a marker of the lifestyle of the
mothers who breast feed rather than showing a biologic effect in
itself." Fleming et al

Therefore, it looks like there is no physiological protective
effect from breast feeding.  As a pediatrician, I recommend
breast feeding for any infant when possible, because of general
health benefits.  However, I do not think we can honestly state
that prevention of SIDS is linked to breast feeding.


REFERENCE:  Fleming, P.J., P.S. Blair, C. Bacon, et al.
Environment of infants during sleep and risk of the sudden infant
death syndrome: results of 1993-5 case-controlled study for
confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy.  Br.
Med. J., 313: 191-195, 1996.


Since I haven't yet dug out the paper, I would really appreciate any
reviews of it, and some other papers that indicate anything to the
contrary. My first question - is how did Fleming et al define
"breastfeeding"? Was it partial, full or what?

Thanks - and sorry if you've recently done this topic!!

Narelle
_______________________________________________________________________
Narelle Clark
   o        o     Underfed, underwashed, underslept - but well loved.
  \ / o  o \ /          It's great being a parent!
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