The Academy of BF Medicine released this statement yesterday (and yay
for Ruth Lawrence's quote within which got just a tiny bit beyond just
the "scientific" stuff!):

Strong Evidence Base for Benefits of Breastfeeding,
According to Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

New Rochelle, NY, March 19, 2009—Breastfeeding offers irrefutable and
long-lasting health benefits for both mother and baby, which are
supported by a comprehensive body of scientific research, including
original articles and reviews such as those in Breastfeeding Medicine,
the peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
The Academy is a global organization of physicians dedicated to the
promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding through education,
research, and advocacy ( www.bfmed.org).

According to leaders of the Academy, despite a sound scientific basis
for the advantages of breastfeeding, dissenting opinions that aim to
discredit breastfeeding, and question its relevance for women, receive
exposure in the mass media such as the recent article in The Atlantic.
Critics of breastfeeding do a disservice to new mothers around the
world who seek the facts about the proven health benefits of
breastfeeding as they often misrepresent the scientific findings and
wrongly base global recommendations on the experiences and views of
select groups of women.

Clinical and basic science research supports the role of breastfeeding
in the development of a baby's immune system and the presence of
maternal antibodies protect infants against infection. Artificial
feeding is also associated with increased risk of common disorders of
early childhood such as ear infections, asthma, skin disorders,
digestive problems, and respiratory tract infections. Studies have
also linked artificial feeding to increased risk for obesity, type 1
and 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS), and necrotizing enterocolitis. Mothers benefit as well, and a
history of breastfeeding has been associated with a reduced risk of
type 2 diabetes and of breast and ovarian cancer.

With this growing body of evidence, and increasing support among
health and medical professionals, breastfeeding rates in the U.S. are
in fact on the rise. "But we are reminded as articles like this arise
that misinformation abounds. Our goal is to continue to educate
healthcare professionals to support mothers who understand the
singular importance of breastfeeding and choose to do so," remarks
Caroline J. Chantry, MD, President of the Academy.

"The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine encourages all women to make an
informed choice when faced with the question of how to feed their
infants based on strong, well-referenced scientific information. The
data are compelling, scientific, and reinforced constantly.
Breastfeeding for the new mother may not always be easy, but it is
important and rewarding for both mother and infant," says Ruth A.
Lawrence, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Breastfeeding Medicine, from the
Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine
and Dentistry.

The Academy promotes the development and dissemination of clinical
practice guidelines, and offers clinical protocols for the care of
breastfeeding mothers and infants which are available on the Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) National Guideline
Clearinghouse website. The education of physicians and other
healthcare professionals is the continuing goal of its Annual
International Meeting; the 2009 Meeting will be held November 5-8 in
Williamsburg, VA.

Breastfeeding Medicine is an authoritative, peer-reviewed,
multidisciplinary journal published quarterly. The journal publishes
original scientific articles, reviews, and case studies on a broad
spectrum of topics in lactation medicine. It presents evidence-based
research advances and explores the immediate and long-term outcomes of
breastfeeding, including the epidemiologic, physiologic, and
psychological benefits of breastfeeding. The Academy's complete
position statement appears on the Academy website ( www.bfmed.org).

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