Benefits of Breastfeeding 1

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

Charlie Katherine Mullis

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Dr. Njoroge
Benefits of Breastfeeding 2

Appendix

Title Page 1

Appendix 2

Statement of Objectives 3

Hypothesis 4

Definitions of Variables 5

Literature Review 6

Method and Research Design 15

References 16
Benefits of Breastfeeding 3

Statement of Objectives

The USA is the fourth most populated country in the world and we spend more on health

care than any other nation in the world. Still our health outcomes are poor (Danawi,

2016). This paper will describe the positives of increasing breastfeeding rates and provide

information that will be useful to support the choice of breastfeeding for mother and

baby.
Benefits of Breastfeeding 4

Hypothesis

Increasing breastfeeding rates will help reduce negative health outcomes due to the fact

that breastfeeding is shown to decrease the risk of multiple chronic and infectious

diseases plus improve quality of life for mother and most importantly, baby.
Benefits of Breastfeeding 5

Definition of Variables

Independent variables: My independent variables will be mother, baby, and breast milk.

Dependent variables: My dependent variables will be breastfeeding rates and health

outcomes.
Benefits of Breastfeeding 6

Literature Review

According to Wendy Stuhldreher and the Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science,

breastfeeding is defined as “the preferred feeding method for infants, providing optimal

nutrition for the infant (including immunologic protection), mother-infant bonding, and

enhanced maternal health.” She goes on to describe the process and effects of

breastfeeding as follows: The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health

Organization advise solely breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life and

continual breastfeeding after the child has been introduced to solid foods, on up to at

minimum, one year old and beyond. Many will be interested to know that the size of a

mother’s breast has no relationship or effect on being successful with lactation. The

physiology of what determines successful lactation is how maturation the mother’s breast

tissue is, the introduction and continuation of milk secretion, and the transfer of milk to

the nipple. All of the above are dependent on hormonal control. A majority of women

have the necessary anatomy to be successful in lactation unless they have had some sort

of surgical adjustment to their breast. The hormonal influence on a women’s breast

development starts in adolescence. 1When estrogen is increased this causes “the breast

ducts to elongate and duct cells to grow” (Stuhldreher, 2013). As more fibrous and fatty

tissue grows, the nipple area matures also. 2As adolescence continues to progress, the

hormones responsible for the menstrual cycle promote further growth of the alveoli. The

increased levels of estrogen that is present while the mother is pregnant help with the

growth and diverging of the milk ducts. The increase in progesterone helps with the

development of the alveoli. Many more milk ducts will be formed throughout a mother’s

1
The ducts are narrow tubular vessels that run from the segments of the breast into the tip of the
nipple.
2
Alveoli are the cells responsible for producing milk.
Benefits of Breastfeeding 7

pregnancy, specifically the first three months she is pregnant. Groups of milk-producing

cells will start to enlarge, and the placental hormones will stimulate breast development.

Not long before a mother goes into labor and delivers her baby, the pituitary gland

produces the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is required for starting lactation and helping

with milk production. Prolactin will reach its peak at the time of delivery. Another

hormone produced by the pituitary gland is oxytocin. Oxytocin is what stimulates the

breast to discharge milk. When the alveoli contract and push the milk to the front of the

breast, this is called the letdown reflex. The letdown reflex primarily happens when the

infant suckles, but later on the baby crying can instigate it. An effective letdown reflex is

vital for breastfeeding to be successful.

Not only is breastfeeding is a natural response to childbirth, but the amount of

nutrients found in breast milk is perfect for the human infant. Breast milk is known to

have more than one hundred ingredients. The basic nutrient content of breast milk is a

combination of protein, sugar, salts, and fats. The amount of each can vary. It depends on

the time of lactation and can even depend on the feeding. The technical term for a

mother’s first milk is called colostrum. This milk is created in the first few days after

birth and is lower in calories and fat and higher in protein and certain minerals.

Colostrum gets its opaqueness and yellow coloring because it is composed of a high

amount of carotenes, which favors vitamin A. It also provides immune protection to the

infant due to its high amount of antibodies and white blood cells. A few days after birth,

the colostrum transitions to mature milk. There are two types of mature milk, which are

foremilk and hindmilk. Foremilk is the first to be released once the infant starts to suckle.

It looks watery, and has a bluish color. It is low in fat but rich in other nutrients and
Benefits of Breastfeeding 8

accounts for around one-third of the baby’s intake. As the nursing continues, the

hindmilk moves in. This milk is higher in fat content. It is important that both types of

milk be present because of the nutrient content.

Several nutrient characteristics make breast milk the perfect baby food. The

carbohydrate found in breast milk, known as lactose, is the same kind of “simple sugar”

found in any other kind of milk, but the protein found in breast milk is uniquely and

specific in order to meet the infant’s needs. Because breast milk is lower in protein than

cow’s milk the baby’s kidneys are able to maintain water balance better. The protein in

breast milk is called alpha-lactalbumin while the protein in cow’s milk is called casein.

Alpha-lactalbumin is easier for the baby to digest and offers amino acids that are “the

building blocks of proteins required for infant growth” (Stuhldreher, 2013).

The fat, also known as lipid, that is found in breast milk is different from woman

to woman and can vary in the same woman on different days. The mother’s diet also

plays a role in the types of fatty acids that help make up a majority of the fat content in

her breast milk. There is an essential fatty acid found in breast milk called linoleic acid.

This fatty acid is higher in breast milk than it is in cow’s milk and it is composed of

omega-3 fatty acids. The amount of calories in a woman’s breast milk that come from fat

is around fifty-five percent. Compare that to about forty-nine percent of the calories that

are found in infant formulas. There are also enzymes in breast milk that help digest these

fats in the baby’s stomach. The baby better absorbs this digested fat than the products that

are found in cow’s milk or baby formula. There is more cholesterol in breast milk than

there is in cow’s milk, which appears to help with the development of enzymes that are

necessary for breaking down cholesterol, and is thought to provide protection against
Benefits of Breastfeeding 9

atherosclerosis in later life3. Cholesterol is necessary for the proper development of the

CNS or central nervous system. A healthy mother’s breast milk contains the vitamin and

mineral content that supplies everything needed for growth and health of the baby. The

only exception in this milk is vitamin D and fluoride, but these can be easily

supplemented. Vitamin K is necessary to the baby and is provided through the mother’s

breast milk and their own intestinal bacteria. The mineral content of breast milk is made

to stimulate growth but also protect the baby’s undeveloped kidneys. In order for the

baby’s kidneys to maintain their water balance, breast milk must have low sodium

content. When comparing the iron content of breast milk verses cow’s milk, about fifty

percent of iron can be absorbed by the baby’s body through breast milk, compared to

cow’s milk which the baby will only absorb about four percent. This is known as

bioavailability. Breast milk iron allows for high bioavailability, so the introduction of

solid foods can be put off until around six months of age for most breast-fed babies. This

postponement of solid food introduction is thought to help to reduce the possibility of

allergies in vulnerable babies. It is also thought that zinc is better absorbed through breast

milk as well.

There are other advantages to breastfeeding that do not involve nutrition. One

major benefit is immune protection and resistance that breast milk provides to the baby.

There are bifidus factors in both the colostrum and mature milk, which are similar to the

growth of beneficial bacteria in the baby’s digestive tract. These bacteria provide

protection against harmful organisms. Lactoferrin is another resistance factor. It binds

iron so that the harmful bacteria cannot find use for it. There is also lysozyme, lipases,

3
Atherosclerosis- hardening and narrowing of the arteries. Silently and slowly blocks arteries,
putting blood flow at risk. (What is Atherosclerosis?)
Benefits of Breastfeeding 10

and lactoperoxidases that offer protection against the harmful bacteria. In the colostrum

there are large amounts of immunoglobulins. These compounds of proteins act like

antibodies that fight against foreign bodies in the baby’s baby. These are known as

antigens. Usually the fight against foreign bodies that is passed to the baby derives from

the environmental antigens that the mother has been exposed to. The highest

concentration of antibodies found in the colostrum is in the first hour after birth.

Interferon is also found in breast milk. Interferon is an antiviral substance, which is

produced by white blood cells in breast milk.

Allergy protection is another benefit of breastfeeding. Mucous barriers in the

baby’s intestine will prevents the absorption of whole proteins, which is the main cause

of an allergic reaction. When a baby is newborn, the mucous barrier is not totally

developed, meaning whole immunologic proteins cannot be absorbed. If cow’s milk or

solids are given too early, whole food proteins will be absorbed and this absorption will

increase the potential for allergic reactions.

More benefits of breastfeeding are protection against the intestinal disorders

Crohn’s disease, celiac sprue, reduced risk for infectious diseases, which include diarrhea

and respiratory disease, and a reduced risk of obesity and type-two diabetes that could be

developed later in life. Studies also show that, because the taste of breast milk can vary

depending on the mother's diet, it is thought that children who were breastfed as babies

may be less picky eaters as they get older and are more keen on trying new foods than

compared to children that were solely formula-fed.

Breastfeeding also encourages mother/baby bonding. This is a process in which

the mother and baby form an attachment or relationship with each other. If a mother has
Benefits of Breastfeeding 11

early continued skin-to-skin contact with her baby, studies show that the mother is more

likely to breastfeed and to continue breastfeeding her baby for more months. The milk

from a mother delivering babies that are preterm is higher in protein, non-protein

nitrogen, calcium, IgA, sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, and magnesium plus it

is composed of a different fat and has lower lactose than does mature milk of mothers

that delivered their baby at a normal term. All of this will support rapid growth of a

premature baby.

Breastfeeding not only benefits the baby but also benefits the mother. There is

thought to be a connection between the reduction of breast cancer rates and breastfeeding.

Also, the suckling of the infant causes hormonal influence, which helps to contract the

uterus. This returns the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size and helps control postpartum

blood loss. Breastfeeding can also help with a mother’s weight loss after giving birth. The

calories that are needed to make breast milk are taken from the fat buildup that was

deposited in the mother’s body during pregnancy. Other benefits to the mother include

“the reduced risk of ovarian cancer, type-two diabetes, and postpartum depression”

(Stuhldreher, 2013). If a woman solely breastfeeds, meaning they do not use any sort of

supplement or solid food before the baby is six months old, they will usually not have a

period, in other words, menstruate. This benefits the mother because it allows the

restoring of iron due to blood loss, during pregnancy and delivery.

An advantage of breastfeeding in developing countries is that if a mother

exclusively breastfeeds for the first six months, this can help her space out her

pregnancies, because a breastfeeding mother is associated with a lower likelihood of

getting pregnant during that time. One of the main causes of infant malnutrition in these
Benefits of Breastfeeding 12

developing countries happens when the second child is born. This is because when the

breastfeeding for the first child is stopped, it is started on foods that usually do not supply

enough nutrients for them. If the mother is able to space her pregnancies out, the first

child will be able to nurse longer. Breastfeeding can also be very convenient on time

because it does not require mixing and preparing formula or having to sterilize bottles.

The downside is that, solely breastfeeding can take up a majority of the mother’s time,

especially in the first three months after the baby is born. A mother’s freshly produced

breast milk will always be sterile and at the correct room temperature for the baby. The

extra cost in food that the mother consumes in order for her to produce breast milk is far

less than what will need to be paid for baby formula at a store. For mothers with low

incomes, this can benefit them greatly and is critical for the health of their newborn, in

these developing countries (Stuhldreher, 2013).

There are many studies stating the fact that breast-feeding has more positive

effects on infant development than bottle-feeding. These effects are not only apparent in

the early development stages but also later in life. According to Melissa Ferguson and

Peter J. Molfese, in breast milk there are polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs. PUFAs

are long-chain fatty acids containing two or more double bonds and have been identified

as having great potential for increasing nutritional benefit. Scientists have become

enthusiastic of the long-term benefits that can impact the brain and cognitive

development. Ferguson and Molfese quoted Amanda and Singh in their findings of

breast-fed children that were fed breast milk for four months during their infancy, later

scored higher on a mental ability test than infants that were bottle-fed. Long-term effect

investigations done by Gomez-Sanchiz, Canete, Rodero, Baeza, and Avila discovered

that infants who were breast-fed for more than four months scored higher on the Mental

Developmental Index of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development than bottle-fed infants.

More research supports the idea that breast-feeding has long-term cognitive benefits for

children up to seven years of age. Fergusson, Beautrais, and Silva looked at the Wechsler

Intelligence Scales for Children, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and the Reynell

Developmental Language Scales of children ages three, five, and seven that were all

breast-fed and found they had higher scores than those that were bottle-fed. Rogan and

Gladen had these same findings and furthermore found that there are not only cognitive

performance development differences in infancy but also academic performance at ages

three, four, and five years old.

E. Blanco, R. Burrows, M. Reyes, B. Lozoff, S. Gahagan, and C. Albala found a

positive correlation “between breastfeeding for at least 6 months, without formula

supplementation, and whole body adolescent BMD z-score” (2017). It is thought that

breastfeeding in infancy is one factor that may help with higher bone mineral density in

childhood and adolescence. When talking about this topic, Chile provides an ideal setting

to talk about this question. Breastfeeding in Chile is common. The nationally

representative data reveals that eighty percent of children in Chile are solely breastfed for

one month and fifty-six percent are solely breastfed for six months. It is also common for

the early supplementation of cow milk and/or infant formula, to be combined with

breastfeeding. One study showed that at six months of age, twenty-seven percent of

babies were being breastfed and also receiving formula, plus consuming solid foods. The

World Health Organization suggests solely breastfeeding for six months and continuing

breastfeeding in addition to appropriate corresponding foods for up to two years or

longer. With that being said, for many women six months of solely breastfeeding is

challenging. Several women in Chile, plus other countries, have prolonged their lactation

period and many also provide early formula supplementation. In recent reports it has been

found that roughly thirty percent of babies in upper to middle income countries are

breastfed only, between the ages of zero to five months, but that means less than seventy

percent are receiving some to any breast milk at age six months (2017).
Benefits of Breastfeeding 15

Method and Research Design

I will be researching the short term and long term effects of babies that have been

breastfed compared to babies that were not. I will view health records such as bone

mineral density tests, cognitive and brain development, intelligence and vocabulary tests.

I will research and document known health benefits that have been found when it comes

to babies that are and were breastfed.

I will use qualitative and quantitative data to show my results. The research design I have

chosen will be a longitudinal trend study. I will study the given characteristics of babies

that have been breastfed verses babies that were not, in the population of mothers with

small children that still breastfeed or formula fed, over an extended period of time.
Benefits of Breastfeeding 16

References

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spx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=87690304&site=eds-live&scope=site

 What is Atherosclerosis? (n.d.). (W. LLC., Producer) Retrieved November 2018,

from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/what-is-atherosclerosis#1