Breastfeeding basics

Breastfeeding protects your baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems, and ear infections Numerous studies from around the world have shown that diarrhea, lower respiratory illnesses, and ear infections happen less often in breastfed babies, and are less severe when they do occur. Exclusive breastfeeding (meaning no solid food) for at least six months seems to offer the most protection. Researchers have found that immune factors that are present in colostrum (the first milk your body produces) guard against invading germs by forming a protective layer on your baby's mucous membranes in his intestines, nose, and throat. The main immune factor at work here is secretory IgA (immunoglobulin A). It's present in large amounts in colostrum - which is why it's important to start nursing your baby right after birth - but is also found in lower concentrations in mature milk. Breastfeeding may also protect your baby from developing inflammatory bowel disease later in life. Several studies have documented a link between a lack of breastfeeding in infancy and later development of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies. Several studies have found that breastfeeding for six months or more makes it less likely that your baby will go on to develop food or respiratory allergies. At least one study has found that this protection appears to last well into adolescence. Another study found that preterm infants from families with a history of allergies had a lower risk of developing eczema than their formula-fed peers. A third study found that exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first four months after birth reduced a child's risk of developing asthma by age 6. Scientists think that the fatty acids and immune factors such as IgA in breast milk prevent allergic reactions by stopping large foreign proteins from getting into a baby's system. (Proteins in cows' milk are one of the most common allergens, which is one reason that babies who are fed cows' milk-based formulas tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies.) Breastfeeding may boost your child's intelligence Several studies have found a possible connection between breastfeeding and higher IQs. Babies breastfed for six months or more seem to have the most advantage, Experts say that the emotional bonding that takes place during breastfeeding probably contributes to some of the increase, but that the fatty acids in breast milk may play the biggest role in a baby's brain development. Breastfeeding may protect against obesity later in life Whether or not breastfeeding has any effect on a child's weight later in life has been a matter of debate for some time. In May 2005, after conducting a review of 61 studies related to infant feeding and later obesity, researchers concluded that early breastfeeding is linked to a reduced risk of obesity - but they note that more study is necessary to determine just how strong that link is. Experts think that breastfeeding may affect later weight gain for several reasons: Breastfed babies are better at regulating their feedings, leading to healthier eating patterns as they grow. Breast milk contains less insulin than formula (insulin stimulates the creation of fat). And breastfed babies have more of the protein hormone leptin in their system, a substance that researchers believe plays a role in regulating appetite and fat. Also, compared with breastfed babies, formula-fed infants gain weight more rapidly in the first weeks of life. This rapid weight gain is associated with later obesity.