Consider this: There is a choice a mother can make that will truly support her baby's proper physical development and minimize her baby's risk for myriad illnesses. That same choice will also reduce the mother's risk of developing certain cancers. The same resource can also enhance parenting skills and is environmentally friendly and readily available at no cost.
Medically accepted as the healthiest nutritional choice for babies, breastfeeding provides innumerable benefits to baby, mother, the environment and the community. The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the March of Dimes and Lamaze International all recommend breastfeeding for its nutritional, developmental and family-care benefits. In addition, WHO, UNICEF and HHS have prioritized breastfeeding promotion and support.

   Given sound information and support from healthcare providers, family and community, 99% of mothers and babies are able to breastfeed successfully. (However, there are rare instances in which the mother or baby's health may complicate the choice to breastfeed.) Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, a pioneer in childbirth education, eloquently expressed, "breastfeeding is an integral part of the reproductive process, the natural and ideal way of feeding an infant and providing a unique biological and emotional basis for child development."

Best for Baby
   The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that infants do not need anything other than breast milk for the first six months of life, and recommends that all infants be breastfed for at least their first full year, and thereafter as mutually desired by mother and child. Human milk has all the nutrients necessary for the baby's optimal physical growth and development. A mother's own milk is also more easily digested than any alternative infant food.

   Breastfed babies are generally healthier than their formula-fed counterparts. Hundreds of studies demonstrate that breastfeeding decreases the risk, clinical incidence and severity of insulin-dependent diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory, ear and urinary tract infections, allergies, lymphoma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, obesity and more. Researchers regularly discover new and unique compounds in human milk that cannot be duplicated synthetically in a laboratory or through combining other foods. For example, human milk contains living substances that ready the baby's body for the introduction of new foods and protect the immature system from harmful bacteria. Plus, a mother's milk changes as her baby grows and the baby's nutritional and immunological needs change.

   The choice to breastfeed is an especially important one for families with a history of allergies. A baby with allergic parents will likely also develop allergies. Human milk has properties that help the baby's body develop appropriate immunological responses to "irritating" substances, which delay and/or lessen allergic reactions. Extended breastfeeding (beyond the recommended duration of one year) is also helpful in this case. A recent article in the Journal of Human Lactation concluded that breastfeeding protects against childhood asthma and atopic disease. A national health and nutrition survey in Germany found that breastfeeding even reduced the incidence of asthma in children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

Best for Mom
   Women's bodies are designed to breastfeed, and the process benefits the mother as well. Breastfeeding stimulates hormones that help the new mother recover from the birth. It also aids in postpartum weight loss and can contribute to natural child spacing through delayed return of fertility. Breastfeeding also reduces the mother's own risk of certain health problems, including osteoporosis, and breast and ovarian cancers. In addition, breastfeeding enhances the mother-baby bond and provides a natural, effective way of understanding and satisfying her baby.
   
   Breastfeeding is a very convenient way for a mother to feed her baby. Her milk is always available at the perfect temperature and does not require any preparation. Plus, breast milk can be easily stored for later use.

Best for the Budget
    Breastfeeding is cost-effective. Formula usually costs more than $1,500 for a baby's first year. For babies with allergies or digestive problems, special formulas can cost $4,000 a year. Some attire and equipment may be required to facilitate breastfeeding, such as specially made bras to provide needed support, easy access and discretion while feeding. The price of these is comparable to what a mother might pay for her regular garments. Some mothers find their breasts leak milk when not nursing. This is common in the early weeks and months, and can be managed by placing absorbent pads inside the bra. Disposable pads cost a few dollars per week. However, reusable washable cotton or wool pads are also available, which are less expensive in the long run.

   Mothers returning to work who want to continue to breastfeed will need a quality breast pump and bottles to store her milk for the baby. This milk can then be fed to baby while mom is away. Pumps are available for rent or purchase. Renting often costs $50 per month. Purchasing a hospital-grade electric pump can run up to $250, but high-quality manual pumps are also available to purchase at a much lower cost. Qualified lactation counselors can assist mothers in selecting pumps that best suit their needs and budget.

   Some mothers prefer to wear special clothing, often called "nursing wear," which allow them to easily and discreetly breastfeed. Nursing-wear is available in many fashions and a range of prices, but is not strictly necessary, just convenient. With practice, any breastfeeding mother can learn to nurse discreetly.

Best for the Environment
  Breastfeeding requires no packaging, no excess fuel consumption for transportation or heating, and does not exploit animals or trees. As such, every breastfeeding mother has a potentially positive impact on the global community. An eco-conscious mother can use environmentally conscious discretion with any items she might purchase to assist in her breastfeeding. For example, washable pads, a good quality manual pump and glass (rather than plastic) bottles minimize the effect on the environment.

                  

Best for the Workplace
   Working mothers who breastfeed frequently show lower rates of absenteeism, as their breastfed children do not get sick as often as formula-fed children. Healthier kids can generate both tangible and intangible benefits to an employer, including increased productivity, reduction in errors and lower insurance costs.

Cultural & Community Support
   Family and community support of the breastfeeding mother are critical. A new mother may feel uneasy about the perceptions held by her family and friends about breastfeeding. American society sexualizes women's breasts, and a mother's subsequent feelings about her body may complicate her decision to breastfeed. She may be facing people who believe that breastfeeding a child is vulgar or inappropriate. Because bottle-feeding is so prevalent, breastfeeding may be seen as complicated, or even unnecessary.

  In this age of convenience, the American culture has distanced itself from things that seem less "modern." Formula companies make the substitute seem desirable through attractive media placement and relationships with health care providers. Many health care providers lack comprehensive information about the benefits of human milk and the expertise to teach the appropriate feeding techniques. While breastfeeding is natural, it is a learned art.

                                                   Fortunately, there are increasing numbers of trained, board-certified lactation consultants and other care providers who can provide aid and instruction to breastfeeding mothers. In addition to reassuring a mother that breastfeeding is both natural and the best option available to her and her baby, these consultants answer questions and give guidance on technique and nursing patterns. They reinforce that nursing patterns will vary for each baby and mother and change as the baby grows. They teach mothers to nurse according to the baby's natural cues, building the milk supply that is right for her individual child.

La Leche League International
   Other community support services are available, too, most notably from the nonprofit La Leche League International, an organization dedicated to providing education, information, support and encouragement to women who choose to breastfeed. Founded in 1956, La Leche League's extensive resources meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of mothers and babies in 65 countries.

   Greater Cleveland boasts nearly 40 La Leche League "Leaders" (volunteer, accredited breastfeeding counselors) who support more than a dozen monthly group meetings and provide telephone assistance. La Leche League also offers conferences and continuing education programs for parents and healthcare providers alike.

   Considering the extensive benefits of breastfeeding, especially in light of the decline in the health of our youth, it is imperative that a new mother consider the power of breastfeeding. In addition to the confidence she gains knowing that she is providing her growing baby with the healthiest, most nutritional food, the breastfeeding mother is also benefiting her own health, her budget, the environment and her employer. The mother's choice to breastfeed provides a lifelong gift to her child and contributes to the worldwide support of this natural and optimal way to feed and nurture babies.

   La Leche League of Ohio will hold its 34th Breastfeeding and Parenting Conference at the Cleveland Airport Marriott on April 29-30, 2005. The event offers dozens of topics of interest to parents and healthcare providers alike, from breastfeeding, child development, family empowerment and nutrition, to personal growth and relaxation. Family-oriented exhibits, a silent auction, a bookstore and children's activities complement this educational event, and all family members are welcome. The concurrent Healthcare Provider Seminar is an intensive continuing education program for health professionals and counselors who work with the breastfeeding couple. Continuing education credits will be available for a variety of practitioners. For more conference information, please visit www.lllusa.org/OH/conf. To locate a La Leche League Group near you, please visit www.lalecheleague.org or call (216) 291-4313.


Halle Barnett is a writer, publicist, La Leche League Leader, and former breastfeeding mother from University Heights. She can be reached at Acornbaum@aol.com.

Photos by Bob Perkoski, www.Perkoski.com.