Article: Added to site 10 October 2008
Breast is best is a catchy phrase and with all the adverse publicity surrounding infant formulas recently, Natural Fertility approached Louise James, Breastfeeding Advocate with Women's Action Trust, to explain just why Breast really is Best here's what she said:

In New Zealand the majority of women with new babies start out wanting to breastfeed, as they know that ‘Breast is Best’. However it is not often known exactly why that is, particularly in a developed country with a predominately safe water supply.

The World Health Organisation recommends that breastfeeding provides the full and complete food for the optimum development of a child to six months then with added solids until two years or more. The optimum child development encompasses the physical, emotional, intellectual and social wellbeing of a child. 

Nutritionally the breastmilk supplies:¨        100% of  energy intake from 0 -  6 months¨      
                                                                          70% of energy intake from 6 – 8 months¨       
                                                                          55% of energy intake from 9 – 12 months¨                          
                                                                          40% of energy intake from 1 - 2 years 

Immunologically the breastmilk  supplies an abundance of antibodies against the bacteria that the mother has been in contact with. This immunity allows breastfeeding children that get sick to generally recover much quicker and get less severe episodes. Breastfeeding is associated with a reduction in the risk of: ear infections, diarrhoea, coughs & colds, eczema, asthma (young children), obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, childhood leukaemia, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and serious bowel disease in the premature baby. 

Intellectually the child that is breastfed exclusively for six months and continues on breastmilk with appropriate complementary foods has an IQ advantage over a child fed on a breastmilk substitute. 

The benefits for breastfeeding do not stop at the child. If a healthy mother does not breastfeed she increases risks of: breast, ovarian & endometrial cancer, being overweight getting osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and maternal diabetes. Breastfeeding mothers experience less stress & anxiety and have longer natural child spacing. The mother who breastfeeds and is in paid employment has less absenteeism from sick days off caring for a sick child.

Economically breastfeeding is cost efficient in terms of providing food and health care costs.

Breastfeeding makes calming a distressed baby easier and acts as medicine and pain relief for the child. Breastfeeding builds confident mothers and children. 

For breastfeeding support contact La Leche League www.lalecheleague.org.nz

For combining breastfeeding and work contact Women’s Health Action www.womens-health.org.nz   

For drug-free contraception whilst breastfeeding and beyond contact www.naturalfertility.co.nz  

References: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2007)‘Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed CountriesCohen, R et al. (1995). Comparison of maternal absenteeism and infant illness rates among breastfeeding and formula-feeding women in two corporations. American Journal of Health Promotion, 10(2), 148-53. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 2003, 24(1) Special Issue Based on WHO Expert Consultation on Complementary Feeding. Gribble KD. (2006) Mental Health, attachment and breastfeeding: implications for adopted children and their mothers. International Breastfeeding Journal 2006 Mar 9;1(1):5. INFACT Canada (2006) Risks of Formula Feeding: A brief annotated Bibliography Kramer et al. (2008) Breastfeeding and child cognitive development: new evidence from a large randomized trial. Archives of General Psychiatry 2008 May;65(5):578-84 World Health Organisation (2003) Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding. Greneva:WHO