Best Breastfeeding Health News of 2009

The news in 2009 highlighted several benefits of breastfeeding for both breastfeeding mothers themselves and their nurslings. Here are some of the top stories:

1. Heart health for breastfeeding mothers. A study of 140,000 post-menopausal women revealed several heart health benefits of breastfeeding. Women who breastfed their babies had lower incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Women who breastfed for seven months or more were significantly less likely to develop heart disease. Women who breastfed for a cumulative 12 months or more in their lifetimes had a 10% lower incidence of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease later in life.

2. Lower risk of breast cancer for women with family history. The New York Times reported on a new study that found that “for women with an immediate relative, like a mother or a sister, who had breast cancer, those who breast-fed had a 59 percent lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer. That is closer in line with the risk for women who had no disease in the family.” The discovery was made by Dr. Alison M. Stuebe of University of North Carolina. The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog features a podcast with Dr. Stuebe on the problem with formula company diaper bags.

3. Stem cells in breast milk. Scientists have discovered three different types of stem cells in breast milk. Researcher Dr. Mark Cregan believes the stems cells help each child “fulfill its genetic destiny” as the mother’s breasts take over from the placenta in guiding the infant’s development. This discovery not only highlights the fact that artificial milk is a poor substitute for breast milk, but also opens the door to research on causes of low milk production and drugs that could improve milk supply.

4. Breastfeeding helps prevent multiple sclerosis relapse. A study showed that women who breastfed exclusively for at least two months after giving birth were far less likely to experience a relapse of multiple sclerosis than women who did not breastfeed or started supplemental feedings with artificial milk.

5. Breastfeeding benefits for both baby and mother. In November the American Dietetic Association released an updated position paper promoting and supporting breastfeeding. The paper listed the breastfeeding benefits for babies as:

* Enhanced immune system
* Reduced risk for nonspecific gastroenteritis, severe lower respiratory tract infections and asthma
* Protection against allergies and intolerances
* Promotion of correct development of jaw and teeth
* Association with higher intelligence quotient and school performance through adolescence
* Reduced risk for chronic disease such as obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and childhood leukemia
* Reduced risk for sudden infant death syndrome.

The paper also listed the breastfeeding benefits for mothers:

* Strong bonding with infant
* Increased calorie expenditure, which may lead to faster return to pre-pregnancy weight
* Faster shrinking of the uterus
* Reduced postpartum bleeding and delays in the menstrual cycle
* Decreased risk for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and ovarian cancer
* Improved bone density and decreased risk for hip fracture
* Decreased risk for postpartum depression
* Enhanced self-esteem in the maternal role
* Time saved from preparing and mixing formula
* Money saved from not buying formula and increased medical expenses associated with formula feeding.

60 Seconds for Breastfeeding Advocacy

Calling all United States readers! It only takes 60 seconds to use this easy tool from the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) to ask your representatives and senators to co-sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009. Simply type in your name and address including zip code+4 and the USBC does the rest! Here are more details in an email you can forward to ask your friends to use the tool as well. Read more

Breastfeeding Promotion Act Support Letter

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 was introduced on June 11, 2009. Now is the time to take action to support HR2819 / S1244 by writing to your state representatives and senators to ask them to co-sponsor the bill. In addition to the original sponsors Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York and Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, 10 representatives and one senator co-sponsor the bill as of June 17, 2009: Reps. Capps, Olver, and Frank of Massachusetts, Reps. Roybal-Allard, Levin, and Meeks of New York, and Reps. Kaptur, Snyder, Schwartz, and Moran of Virginia, and Senator Gillibrand of New York.

You can look up the contact information for your representatives and senators and use the following sample letter or your own draft to write to your representatives and senators to ask them to co-sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act (HR2819 / S1244). I have adapted this sample letter from the advocacy kit provided by the District of Columbia Breastfeeding Coalition for the 2007 Act. Read more

Breastfeeding, Divorce and Custody Issues

Sadly, breastfeeding can become an issue in divorce, custody and visitation rights cases. With hard feelings on both sides, parents have difficulty coming to agreement on breastfeeding and custody and visitation arrangements that are in the best interests of the nursling. I recently received this comment and question:

Is there a Colorado law that explicitly states that it is a mother’s legal right to breastfeed? The father of my daughter’s baby (7 months), and his attorney, are trying to force my daughter to wean the child and get her to bottle feed. This is so the father can gain more freedom with visitations. Any suggestions on where I can find this information for my daughter to fight this issue? Thanks in advance for your response.

While I am a former attorney (of tax law), I cannot offer legal advice in this matter. As a breastfeeding counselor I am happy to point in the right direction and offer information resources for you and your daughter’s attorney to utilize in this dispute. Read more

Heart Health for Breastfeeding Mothers

Researchers have long known that breastfeeding mothers benefit from less incidence of breast and ovarian cancer and type II diabetes than formula-feeding mothers. A new study shows yet more strong correlation between breastfeeding and lower rates of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Nearly 140,000 post-menopausal women were studied in the Women’s Health Initiative. According to the Vancouver Sun (via One Small Step for Breastfeeding…), the study revealed breastfeeding’s heart health benefits on three levels:

1. Risk Factors. Women who breastfed their babies had lower incidence of the following three risk factors for heart disease: diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

2. Cardiovascular Disease. Women who had never breastfed were significantly more likely to develop heart disease than women who breastfed for seven months or more.

3. Heart Attack and Stroke. Women who breastfed for a cumulative 12 months or more in their lifetimes had a 10% lower incidence of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease later in life.

Researcher Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD told WebMD:

The longer women nursed babies, the less likely they were to develop diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. Any breastfeeding was good, but more was better.

The complete study appears in the May 2009 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Prison Reform (Then and Now) for Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies

One of the ValueTale series of books my 6- and 4-year-olds enjoy depicts the story of real-life prison reformer Elizabeth Gurney Fry. Fry was a Quaker woman who initiated prison reform for the women and children living in Newgate Prison in the early 1800s.

Fast forward 200 years. What are the conditions like in the women’s prisons near you today? What would Elizabeth Fry think of a prison system that separates mothers and children without provision for breastfeeding babies? Remember how Olympic athlete Marion Jones had to wean her baby before she began to serve her prison sentence? What if she could have continued to breastfeed? There is something you can do to support prison reform for breastfeeding mothers and babies. If you are in Canada, read on for specific action you can take. Those outside of Canada might be inspired to take action locally as well. Read more

Have You Ever Tasted Breast Milk? A Poll

Many of us tasted breast milk as infants of course, but have you ever tasted it as an adult? Maybe you were curious like Friends on television, illustrating a point like this professor, using it to treat cancer, or you have a breast milk fetish.

It’s the easiest poll ever!

To see all past poll results, click here.

Feel free to leave a comment! Have you tried breast milk, why, and what did you think (keep it clean or I won’t approve your comment)?

Reaping the Rewards of Breastfeeding

Today b5media Health and Wellness bloggers write on a fall theme of Harvest. What better time to discuss reaping the rewards of breastfeeding! There is a lot of debate in the breastfeeding community about whether it’s better to say “breast is best” or “breastfeeding is the norm” (and there is increased risk with formula-feeding). Any way you say it, there are many ways breastfeeding benefits baby, mother, the family, and even society in general!

Benefits for Baby

~ A meta-analysis of several studies found “There is good evidence that breastfeeding reduced infants’ risk of ear infections by up to 50 percent, serious lower respiratory tract infections by 72 percent, and a skin rash similar to eczema by 42 percent. Children with a family history of asthma who had been breastfed were 40 percent less likely to have asthma, and children who were not prone to asthma had a percent reduced risk compared to those children who were not breastfed. . . . The report also found that breastfeeding was associated with . . . decreased incidence of childhood leukemia, and decreased deaths from sudden infant death syndrome. . . . In premature infants, breastfeeding decreased the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious gastrointestinal infection that often results in death.” Read more

A Few Notes for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) I bring you some important information on breast cancer:

~ If you are breastfeeding and scheduled for a breast biopsy, you could participate in a groundbreaking research study. Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog explains how “when you make milk, cells from your milk ducts are exfoliated off in the process. These are called epithelial cells, and they’re detectable in your milk. Past research has demonstrated that long before we notice a lump, those epithelial cells start changing in ways that are precursors to the development of breast cancer.” If you participate in the study at no cost to you, your milk sample could help in the development of a non-invasive means of determining breast cancer risk through breast milk.

~ The Health and Wellness Channel here at b5media features its own blog dedicated to breast cancer awareness written by Karen Lynch. To celebrate BCAM, Karen is running a prize giveaway every day this month! Check out Pink Ribbon Review for your chance to win!

~ Boob Maternity and Nursing sells a “Boob Think Pink” nursing top for CDN $65 at Milkface.com. Three Euros from the sale of each tee goes toward breast cancer research.

~ Breastfeeding 1-2-3 features several articles on breastfeeding and breast cancer:

~ Leaking Breast Milk after Surgery for Breast Abscess or Lumpectomy
~ Breast Self-Exams in Lactating Women
~ Video Demonstration of Breast Self-Exam
~ Promising Anti-Cancer Powers of Breast Milk
~ Breast Cancer Testing: X-rays, Mammograms, Ultrasounds, Cat Scans
~ Breastfeeding after Chemotherapy, Radiation and Lumpectomy
~ Breastfeeding Reduces Cancer Risk
~ One-Sided Nursing with Full Supply

The Breast Cancer 3-Day 60-Mile Walk

Yet another study recently showed that breastfeeding helps fight breast cancer by reducing a breastfeeding woman’s risk of developing certain types of breast cancer. Still, it remains critical to fight breast cancer through the funding of breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment. I am proud to say my sister Jill McNabb has committed to the cause by agreeing to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day — a 60-mile walk over the course of three days — and raising at least $2,200 in donations in the process (her goal is actually $3,000 and she’s raised $1,800 so far!) Jill will be part of the Washington, D.C. event starting on October 3, 2008. She explains why she feels so passionate about supporting breast cancer awareness:

I am walking in support of every woman I know, and in memory of a friend who was younger than I am now when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She found her second recurrence herself (which her doctors first told her was just scar tissue) when she was pregnant with her second son. They waited until 6 weeks before his due date so the baby was healthy enough to induce labor so she could start chemotherapy again. I watched her endure another battle with chemo with a toddler and a newborn baby, always with strength and dignity, providing as “normal” an environment as possible for her family. We lost her at age 38, brilliant, beautiful and strong until the very end. Stacey was my mentor and friend, and I miss her terribly.

You can help fight breast cancer too by making a donation to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust. Click here to donate. I’ll be sure to let you know how much Jill raises and how the walk goes!

Once you make your donation, you might be interested in reading these articles on breastfeeding and breast cancer:

Leaking Breast Milk after Surgery for Lumpectomy
Breast Self-Exams in Lactating Women
Video Demonstration of Breast Self-Exam
Promising Anti-Cancer Powers of Breast Milk
Breast Cancer Testing: X-rays, Mammograms, Ultrasounds, Cat Scans
Breastfeeding after Chemotherapy, Radiation and Lumpectomy
Breastfeeding Reduces Cancer Risk
One-Sided Nursing with Full Supply

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