Diabetes, SIDS, Respiratory Illnesses ...

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solving Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America
by Jack Newman, M.D., Teresa Pitman

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Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious disease that is becoming increasingly common. Type I is the type seen in children, and there is clearly a genetic component that makes some children vulnerable to this illness. While the evidence is not conclusive, studies have shown that when formula or cow's milk is not introduced to the baby's diet until he is older (some have recommended waiting at least one year), the baby is less likely to develop diabetes.

SIDS

SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome-situations in which a baby dies, usually while asleep. This is also known as crib death or cot death. No cause for this syndrome has been discovered, and there are probably several factors involved. (After many years of advising parents always to put the baby to bed lying on his stomach, for example, doctors are now recommending that babies sleep on their backs to reduce the incidence of SIDS.) Researchers have found that feeding a baby with formula does increase the risk of the baby dying from SIDS.

Respiratory Illnesses

If you've noticed the steadily increasing numbers of children with asthma, you're not alone. There are multiple causes of this problem, too (one being the increasing amount of air pollution in our cities, and another, the larger numbers of children in day care situations, where they are exposed to more viruses at an earlier age).

Once again, though, feeding the baby with formula is a risk factor for developing asthma. Babies fed formula instead of breastmilk are also at a higher risk of other respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). They also take longer to recover from these illnesses than do breastfed babies.

Ear Infections

Since ear infections are quite common in infants and young children, this area has been frequently researched, and formula-feeding has been repeatedly shown to be a risk factor in developing otitis media (ear infection). Ear infections are often very painful for the baby, and can lead to further complications-fluid can stay in the ear for a period of time after the infection has been treated, aVecting the baby's hearing and speech development.

Childhood Cancer

At least three studies have found that formula-feeding increases the risk of developing cancer during childhood. These studies are not conclusive, but there are good theoretical reasons why the conclusions may be correct.

Gastrointestinal Infections and Diseases

It seems logical that the baby's gastrointestinal system would be aVected by the choice of infant feeding method-and it is. Formula significantly increases the baby's risk of diarrhea caused by various infections, and babies who are fed artificially also take longer to recover from these illnesses. This is in part because they often have to be taken oV their formula and given only clear fluids while they are sick-meaning that they get fewer nutrients-while a breastfed baby can, and should, continue nursing and receiving high-quality nutrition plus antibodies to kill oV the germs that are causing the illness.

Breastfed babies are much less likely to become constipated. In fact, their bowel movements are usually very loose, even if they become infrequent. Formula is much more likely to cause constipation and painful bowel movements.

Effectiveness of Vaccines

Artificial feeding reduces the eVectiveness of vaccinations by diminishing the baby's response and production of the necessary antibodies. Breastfed babies have a better response to vaccinations, and produce more antibodies.

Normal Development of Jaw and Facial Muscles

Anyone who has carefully observed a baby suck on a bottle and compared it to the way a baby suckles at the breast knows that these are two very diVerent techniques. Naturally, they lead to diVerent development of muscles in the baby's cheeks, jaw, and tongue. Some people claim they can recognize a breastfed baby on sight, just by looking for the rounded, well-developed cheeks! The importance of this becomes clear as the child gets older-children who were artificially fed as babies are more likely to need orthodontic work. Long-term breastfeeding, in particular, seems to promote the development of a well-shaped jaw and straight teeth.

Other Conditions

Artificial feeding increases the baby's risk of many other problems as well. Several recent studies found that artificially fed babies are much more likely to become obese as children and teens. They are at greater risk of colitis, meningitis, Crohn's disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, eczema, certain types of heart disease, and allergies, among others.

Risks to the Mother

Breastfeeding helps new mothers to recover from giving birth by encouraging the uterus to contract normally and by reducing the amount of blood loss.

It also reduces the risk of developing breast cancer. Some early studies didn't reveal this benefit; they tended to lump together women who had breastfed for only a few days with those who had breastfed for several years. Since then, more careful research has shown that the length of breastfeeding is important-the greater the total number of months of breastfeeding, the lower the risk of developing breast cancer.

Copyright © 2006 by Jack Newman, M.D.

About the Author

Jack Newman, M.D., the leading researcher in the field of breastfeeding, is a popular speaker at breastfeeding conferences across North America. A father of three, he lives in Toronto.

Teresa Pitman is the author or coauthor of nine other books on parenting. She is a mother of four and lives in Ontario.