Prolonged and Exclusive Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Infectious Diseases in Infancy

Breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. Given the documented short- and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding, infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice. The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant. Medical contraindications to breastfeeding are rare. Infant growth should be monitored with the World Health Organization (WHO) Growth Curve Standards to avoid mislabeling infants as underweight or failing to thrive. Hospital routines to encourage and support the initiation and sustaining of exclusive breastfeeding should be based on the American Academy of Pediatrics-endorsed WHO/UNICEF “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.” National strategies supported by the US Surgeon General’s Call to Action, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and The Joint Commission are involved to facilitate breastfeeding practices in US hospitals and communities. Pediatricians play a critical role in their practices and communities as advocates of breastfeeding and thus should be knowledgeable about the health risks of not breastfeeding, the economic benefits to society of breastfeeding, and the techniques for managing and supporting the breastfeeding dyad. The “Business Case for Breastfeeding” details how mothers can maintain lactation in the workplace and the benefits to employers who facilitate this practice.

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“…Serious colds and ear and throat infections were reduced by 63% in infants who exclusively breastfed for 6 months. 17 …”

Section: Respiratory Tract Infections and Otitis Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk

Eidelman¹,

Schanler²,

Johnston³

et al. 2012

Pediatrics

3,842

1,367

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“…In multivariate analysis controlling for exposure to child care settings, the risk of nonrecurrent otitis is 0. [255][256][257][258][259] addressed the association of AOM and other infectious illness in infants with duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding, but all had limitations and none had a randomized controlled design. However, taken together, they continue to show a protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding.…”

Section: Breastfeedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Diagnosis and Management of Acute Otitis Media

Tunkel

Rosenfeld²,

Sevilla³

et al. 2013

Pediatrics

1,063

832

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This evidence-based clinical practice guideline is a revision of the 2004 acute otitis media (AOM) guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians. It provides recommendations to primary care clinicians for the management of children from 6 months through 12 years of age with uncomplicated AOM.In 2009, the AAP convened a committee composed of primary care physicians and experts in the fields of pediatrics, family practice, otolaryngology, epidemiology, infectious disease, emergency medicine, and guideline methodology. The subcommittee partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center to develop a comprehensive review of the new literature related to AOM since the initial evidence report of 2000. The resulting evidence report and other sources of data were used to formulate the practice guideline recommendations.The focus of this practice guideline is the appropriate diagnosis and initial treatment of a child presenting with AOM. The guideline provides a specific, stringent definition of AOM. It addresses pain management, initial observation versus antibiotic treatment, appropriate choices of antibiotic agents, and preventive measures. It also addresses recurrent AOM, which was not included in the 2004 guideline. Decisions were made on the basis of a systematic grading of the quality of evidence and benefit-harm relationships.The practice guideline underwent comprehensive peer review before formal approval by the AAP.This clinical practice guideline is not intended as a sole source of guidance in the management of children with AOM. Rather, it is intended to assist primary care clinicians by providing a framework for clinical decision-making. It is not intended to replace clinical judgment or establish a protocol for all children with this condition. These recommendations may not provide the only appropriate approach to the management of this problem. Pediatrics 2013;131:e964-e999

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“…Breastfeeding decreases the risk of sudden infant death [8] , necrotizing enterocolitis, and other neonatal infections [14] , while protecting against cardiovascular disease [27] , atopic disease [33] , and obesity [10] . It may even improve cognitive development [3] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of successful breastfeeding initiation in healthy term singletons: a Swiss university hospital observational study

Gubler

Krähenmann

Roos

et al. 2012

Journal of Perinatal Medicine

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Aims: Breastfeeding significantly benefits mothers and infants. We aimed to identify the determinants of its successful initiation. Methods: A retrospective study of 1893 mothers delivering healthy term singletons at a Swiss university hospital from 1/2008 to 3/2009 determined the associations between multiple breastfeeding and early postpartum parameters by univariate and multiple regression analysis. Results: Multiparity was associated with nursing exclusively at the breast at discharge (P < 0.001), less use of maltodextrin supplement (P < 0.05), bottle/cup (both P < 0.001), but more pacifier use (P < 0.05). Among obese mothers, nursing exclusively at the breast at discharge was less frequent, and use of all feeding aids more frequent, than among normal-weight women (both P < 0.001). Neuraxial anesthesia was associated with use of maltodextrin and bottle (both P < 0.05) compared to no anesthesia. Delayed first skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in for < 24 h/day were each associated with maltodextrin and cup (P < 0.05). Nursing exclusively at the breast at discharge was less frequent (P < 0.001), and bottle use more frequent (P < 0.05), in women with sore nipples than in those without. Conclusions: Obesity is a potent inhibitor of breastfeeding initiation. Delivery without anesthesia by a multi parous normal-weight mother, followed by immediate skin-toskin contact, rooming-in for 24 h/day, and dedicated nipple care, provides the best conditions for successful early postpartum breastfeeding without the need for feeding aids or nutritional supplements.

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Prolonged and Exclusive Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Infectious Diseases in Infancy

Cited by 537 publications

References 37 publications

Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk

Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk

The Diagnosis and Management of Acute Otitis Media

Determinants of successful breastfeeding initiation in healthy term singletons: a Swiss university hospital observational study

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