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. *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html