Independent Project: Maternal Immunity and Breastfeeding Flashcards
how long should you exclusively breastfeed an infant?
for at least the first six months of life
the AAP suggests that women try to breastfeed for the first 12 months of life because of the benefits to both the mother and baby
what are the benefits of breast feeding to the baby?
- breastmilk provides the right balance of nutrients to help an infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler
- breastfed infants have fewer deaths during the first year and experience fewer illnesses than babies fed formula
- breastmilk provides advantages with regard to general health, growth, and development, while significantly decreasing risk for a large number of acute and chronic diseases
which diseases in babies does breastmilk help reduce?
breastmilk decreases the incidence and/or severity of:
- diarrhea
- lower respiratory infection
- otitis media
- bacteremia
- bacterial meningitis
- botulism
- urinary tract infection
- necrotizing enterocolitis
which conditions does breast feeding protect against?
- sudden infant death syndrome
- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
- Crohn’s disease
- ulcerative colitis
- lymphoma
- allergic diseases
- other chronic digestive diseases
what is something important in breast milk that helps with brain development?
fatty acids
specifically, DHA and AA that are thought to increase infant cognitive skills
what are the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother?
- in response to the baby’s sucking, the mother’s body releases a hormone that makes her uterus contract and get smaller
- emotional benefits and feeling close to the baby
- fewer episodes of post-delivery depression
- certain types of cancer occur less often (breast, uterus, ovarian)
what are the health benefits for the mother of breast feeding?
- breastfeeding increases levels of oxytocin resulting in less postpartum bleeding and more rapid uterine involution
- lactational amenorrhea causes less menstrual blood loss over the months after delivery
- earlier return to prepregnant weight
- improved bone remineralization postpartum
- reduced risk of ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer
what is lactational amenorrhea?
lactational amenorrhea is the temporary postnatal infertility that occurs when a woman is amenorrheic (not menstruating) and fully breastfeeding
in what cases is it better not to breastfeed?
- woman with certain health conditions, such as HIV or active tuberculosis, should not breastfeed because she risks giving the infection to her infant through her breast milk
- women who actively use drugs or do not control their alcohol intake
- certain medicines, including some mood stabilizers and migraine medicines, can also pass through the breast milk
- women with certain chronic illnesses
which chronic disease can interfere with breast feeding?
diabetes
with certain chronic illnesses may be advised not to breastfeed, or to take special steps to ensure their own health while breastfeeding
women who have diabetes may need to eat slightly more food while they breastfeed, to prevent their blood sugar levels from dropping
what are NOT reason to stop breastfeeding?
engorgement, hardening of the breast, “breast abscess,” fever, and use of pain medications or antibiotics are NOT reasons to stop breastfeeding
in fact, in some cases—such as breast abscess or breast hardening—emptying of the breast helps to relieve the problem
what should a mom do if she stops breast feeding before 1 year?
she should feed her infant iron-fortified, commercially available formula
health care providers advise women not to give their infants cow’s milk until the child is at least a year old
