Breast-feeding is giving human breast milk to infants to meet their nutritional needs.

See also:

• Breast-feeding tips
• Overcoming breast-feeding problems
• Breast-feeding mothers - self-care
• Formula feeding
• Age-appropriate diet for children

Choosing how and what to feed your baby is a personal decision that deserves careful and thorough consideration. Breast milk is the natural nutritional source for infants younger than one year of age.

Most health care professionals (including the American Academy of Pediatricians and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners) recommend breast-feeding for your baby's first year.

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for the first 6 months of life. It contains appropriate amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, and provides digestive enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and hormones that infants require. Breast milk also contains antibodies from the mother that can help the baby resist infections.

Experts agree that breast-feeding your baby for any length of time, regardless of how short, is of benefit to you and your baby.

You can provide your baby with breast milk directly by breast-feeding or by feeding your baby breast milk from a bottle.

Breast-feeding your baby (directly from your breast) can only be done by you. It can be done exclusively or can be supplemented with bottle feedings.

Breast milk feeding with a bottle:

• Can be given with a bottle by you or others
• Requires regular pumping of milk from your breasts
• Requires appropriate handling and storage of milk
• Requires appropriate preparation of bottles and nipples

Most doctors advise strictly breast-feeding for the first couple of weeks, until breast-feeding is firmly established, rather than switching back and forth to a bottle. This recommendation is based on the possibility of nipple confusion, which can cause sucking and feeding problems for infants who are switched between breast-feeding and bottle feeding. After the infant is 2 months of age, most adapt to bottle nipples easily.

Breast-feeding is a natural function, but is not necessarily a natural instinct for mothers. Most mothers need information about how to feed their babies. Mothers also need support, encouragement, and assistance after birth to enjoy feeding and caring for their babies.

ADVANTAGES OF BREAST-FEEDING

Research shows that breast-fed babies may have less frequent:

• Ear infections
• Stomach or intestinal infections
• Low iron levels in the blood (iron-deficiency anemia)
• Skin diseases (infantile eczema)
• Infant allergies

Breast-fed babies may have less risk of developing:

• Digestive problems such as constipation or diarrhea
• Obesity or becoming overweight
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Tooth decay

Moms who breast-feed their babies enjoy:

• No bottle cleaning
• No formula preparation
• Lower cost
• Easier weight loss
• Less postpartum bleeding
• Enhancement of the unique bond between mother and child

Moms who breast-feed their babies should:

• Understand that any medications you take may enter the breast milk and affect your baby (check with your physician or lactation consultant about which medications are safe, and do not stop any prescribed medication without discussing with your provider first)
• Maintain adequate nutrition
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, every day
• Get plenty of rest
• Take good care of your nipples and breasts
• Relax and enjoy the experience

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS

If you run into any problems, contact a lactation consultant. Moms who breast-feed may experience:

• Nipple soreness
• Breast engorgement
• Leaking breasts
• Let-down reflex (other than during breast-feeding)
• Difficulty knowing how much milk the baby is drinking
• Not enough milk for the baby's needs

Moms who breast-feed their babies may feel confused by lack of experience or support, afraid or ashamed to ask for help for such a "natural" activity.

Most problems can be easily managed with guidance from a lactation consultant.

Cow's milk by itself is not an adequate source of complete nutrition for infants. Commercially prepared formulas for bottle feeding are excellent sources of nutrition for babies who do not breast-feed.

OTHER FACTORS

Some circumstances can change your plans to breast-feed. How and what your baby eats may ultimately depend on the infant's physical condition and your health after birth. However, with help from a consultant, most babies -- even premature babies -- can breast-feed.

Some babies are unable to adequately breast-feed due to:

• Premature birth
• Small size
• Weak physical condition
• Difficulty sucking
• Birth defects of the mouth (cleft lip or cleft palate)
• Digestive problems ( galactosemia)

See a lactation consultant if you have a breast infection or breast abscess, breast cancer or other cancer, previous surgery or radiation treatment, or inadequate milk supply (uncommon).

Some mothers are advised NOT to breast-feed due to health problems such as:

• Serious illnesses (heart disease or cancer, for example)
• Nephritis
• Active, untreated tuberculosis
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection or AIDS
• Active herpes lesions on the breast
• Severe malnutrition

RESOURCES

See breast-feeding tips for ways to overcome common problems. Health care professionals, such as physicians, dietitians, nurses, and nurse-midwives, can help answer your questions.

An excellent resource is the La Leche League International -- www.lalecheleague.org.

See also: Breast-feeding support group