Here's a great article that was in the Vancouver Province yesterday.
Sorry if it comes out with the sentances chopped up, my cut and paste is
doing strange things. Contact info is at:
http://www.vancouverprovince.com/newsite/feedback-c.html

Breast is still the best
            The Province
            Sharon Adams The Province

Breast-feeding moms have always felt they've had mother nature onside --
and now
science is proving breast milk is best for baby. "I know breast-fed
babies are less likely to get ear infections," says Michelle Williams, a
speech pathologist, and mother of 3 1/2-month-old Roan Bohonos. Brenda
Hoover chose to breastfeed month-old Noah."We both have bad allergies
and Gord (her husband) has asthma." She knows breast-fed babies have a
lower risk of developing allergies.

"I had never heard of bottlefeeding," says Suphala Rao, who's
breast-feeding two-week-old Sumiran. Infant formula is rare in India,
where breast-feeding is fully part of the culture.

"There's more conclusive evidence all the time that breastfeeding is not
just a choice but a health issue," says Di Macdonald, director of Birth
and Breastfeeding Resources Inc., where these moms, babes and dads are
part of the 10-week Becoming a Family course.

Research is strengthening the case for breast-feeding, showing it
produces healthier, smarter kids, and that benefits increase with length
of time a baby is breast-fed.It has been found that about 80 per cent of
the cells in breast milk kill bacteria, fungi and viruses, giving babies
some protection from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia,
bronchitis and influenza.
Exclusively breast-fed infants have 2.5 times fewer episodes of
childhood diseases; are four times less likely to die of acute
respiratory infections and up to 25 times less likely to die of
diarrheal disease (a big concern in Third World nations). Breast-feeding
is also associated with lower risk of juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome, asthma, poor retinal development and allergy.

But the latest research indicates breast-feeding also results in smarter
kids.One study of premature babies who were tube-fed breast milk but
were never breast-fed directly showed babies who received no breast milk
had average IQ scores eight points lower than those who received breast
milk directly. Human milk has special ingredients that contribute to
brain development -- and are not found in infant formulas. Breast-fed
babies also spend a lot of time in the "quiet alert" state most
conducive to learning.

"You just can't replicate breast milk," says Williams.

BREAST BENEFITS
- A New Zealand study examined the association between duration of
breast-feeding and intelligence of kids aged eight to 18 years.
Breastfeeding was associated with statistically significant increases in
IQ, reading comprehension and math ability and higher levels attained in
school leaving exams.
- A Dutch study found babies fed formula or who had formula supplements
within the first three weeks of life were found to have twice the rate
of minor neurological dysfunction compared to exclusively breast-fed
babies. The severity of the dysfunction is related to later behavioural
and cognitive development.
- A British study of tube-fed premature infants reports babies fed
breastmilk had IQ scores 8.3 points higher at eight years old than
formula-fed babies. Because the babies were tube-fed, the difference
could not be attributed to interaction between mom and babe.
- New growth charts from the World Health Organization confirm that
breast-fed infants grow differently from formula-fed babies. Breast-fed
infants grow faster initially, then slow down as they approach their
first birthday.Fromula-fed infants go on to have a higher risk of
obesity as adults.
- Breast-feeding has special benefits for premature infants. Premature
breastmilk contains different amounts of some nutrients than term
breastmilk, more suited to the needs of premature babies. Preemies get
the same immune protection as full-term babies and extra protection
against necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious bowel inflammation.
- Breast-feeding contributes to optimal oral development and means less
risk of malocclusion -- and lower orthodontist bills -- not to mention
tooth decay from sleeping with bottles. Side-switching during
breast-feeding optimizes hand-to-eye co-ordination.
- Nursing has psychological benefits for the infant as well,
contributing to attachment betwen mother and child and the baby's sense
of security.

Research into benefits for mother's health:

- Immediately after birth, repeated bursts of oxytocin released in
response to the baby's sucking cause contraction of the uterus,
protecting mom from postpartum hemorrhage.
- Milk production uses up 200-500 calories a day. To burn off an
equivalent number of calories, a bottle-feeding mother would need to
swim 30 laps or ride a bicycle for an hour.

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