Daniela Knaan
UX/UI Designer at - AdobeOverview
Are you still breastfeeding?
I can`t count how many times I have been asked that question. In most societies, breastfeeding is associated with babies. As soon as they become toddlers, can walk, and eat solid food, it obviously becomes “inappropriate” in the eyes of so many, to continue breastfeeding.
Not surprising, that almost all of those who asked me this question, did not have a proper answer when I asked them why they thought it was not okay to do so.
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to 2 years of age or longer. Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their children for at least 1 year.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months with continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for 1 year or longer.
So let`s see and clear up, what the actual benefits of prolonged breastfeeding are!
Short-term Benefits
Ear infections
“Protection from an ear infection is both a short and long-term benefit as it lasts for 4 years if a baby has been breastfed for at least 4 months. Formula-fed babies have a 3-4 times higher risk for ear infection and babies who received both formula and breastmilk have still twice the risk than exclusively breastfed babies.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
Diarrhea
“Babies who have not been breastfed are ten times more likely to die from diarrheal diseases in their first five months compared to exclusively breastfed babies.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
Any breastfeeding is associated with 64% fewer gastrointestinal tract infections, and this effect lasts for 2 months after we stop breastfeeding.
Other Infections
“Mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
The risk for respiratory tract infections is significantly lowered for babies breastfed for more than six months exclusively.
Longterm Benefits
SIDS
“Studies show an association between the lack of breastfeeding and SIDs. For each month of breastfeeding, the chance of SIDS is reduced by 50% compared to formula-fed babies. Exclusive breastfeeding may reduce the risk of SIDs by as much as 70%.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
Obesity
“A German study found that 4.5% of formula-fed children are obese, compared to only 0.8% of breastfed children.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
“Overweight/obesity increases the risk of several non-communicable diseases, including diabetes,
cancer and cardiovascular disease. It has been suggested that breastfeeding may prevent the development of overweight/obesity, not only in early life but also on the long-term.”Bernardo L. Horta, MD, PhD
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
Cesar G. Victora, MD, PhD
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
Several factors may be the reason for obesity being more likely for formula-fed infants- different hormonal reactions in the body, higher protein intake, and food preferences later in life.
Further, breastfed babies know and decide by themselves when they are hungry and when they are done feeding, which leads to healthier eating behavior later in life.
High blood pressure
“Cardiovascular diseases is the leading cause of death worldwide, and blood pressure is positively associated with the risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease. It has been suggested that the development of noncommunicable diseases may be programmed by exposures in early life.”
Bernardo L. Horta, MD, PhD
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
Cesar G. Victora, MD, PhD
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to lower blood pressure in adults. These are present in breastmilk but not in formula and thus may be the reason for long-term protection from high blood pressure.
Mental Illness
“Breastfeeding for less than 6 months compared with 6 months or longer was an independent predictor of
mental health problems through childhood and into adolescence.” The Journal of Pediatrics. (1)
IQ
“Human breast milk contains vital ingredients that enhance the development of the brain in complex ways that are not fully understood. While some of these ingredients, such as DHA, may now be available in formula milk in artificial form, breastfed babies still have an I.Q. advantage over formula-fed infants. I.Q.s of formula-fed infants may be 10 points lower than the breastfed children. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the more significant the difference!” CBI Introduction to Lactation
High Cholesterol
Apparently, high cholesterol intake in infancy has an adverse effect on high cholesterol levels in later life. As breastmilk is high in cholesterol, breastfeeding may protect from high cholesterol as a long-term effect.
Type-2 Diabetes
The presence of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as the difference in insulin secretion while breastfeeding contributes to lifelong protection from diabetes.
The lower risk of obesity in breastfed children is also a reason why diabetes is less likely to happen.
Cancer
“Babies who are never breastfed are 1.25 times more likely to develop childhood leukemia than babies who are breastfed for six months or more.
Hodgkin’s disease is a type of cancer of the lymphatic system.
A meta-analysis carried out in 2005 showed that the risk of developing Hodgkin’s disease was reduced by 24% in children who had been breastfed as infants.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
Allergies
“Breastfed babies are less likely to develop allergies and illnesses related to allergy than formula-fed infants. Breastfeeding protects against other atopic conditions such as eczema, food allergies, and respiratory allergies. Children who were breastfed exclusively for less than four months are more likely to show symptoms of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis at two years of age.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
Oral-Facial Development
“Breastfeeding assists in proper oral-facial development (development of the mouth, jaw, teeth, and tongue), which is necessary for good speech and language development. Babies who were not breastfed, or who were weaned too early (generally, before one year), had more problems with speech and language.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
Nutrients
The all too common belief that breastmilk turns into water after one year is simply not true. Breastmilk stays full of nutrients, fats, and antibodies, and changes according to children’s needs even at toddler age.
Summary
Many of the long-term effects are given when a baby is breastfed exclusively for at least six months. But all of the benefits your baby gets directly through breastfeeding are there as long as you breastfeed or several months after. Having in mind what our baby goes through until the age of two years, and what they are exposed to, breastmilk is a huge treasure of protection for them!
Benefits for Mom
“Both breastfeeding mothers and their children are at lower risk of developing osteoporosis. If a woman does not breastfeed at all, her risk of developing osteoporosis is four times higher than in a woman who breastfeeds.
Breastfeeding causes uterine contractions and a reduction in the size of the uterus. If a woman never breastfeeds, her uterus will always remain slightly enlarged.
Women who never breastfeed or breastfeed for less than one month are significantly more likely to develop Type II diabetes in later years.
Research shows that choosing to formula-feed (and therefore not experiencing lactation) is associated with higher rates of breast cancer in the mother. One study found that for every 12 months of breastfeeding a woman decreased her risk of developing breast cancer by 4.3%. They estimated that if women breastfed for 24 months on average, their lifetime risk of developing breast cancer would be more than halved.
The risk of developing ovarian cancer is significantly reduced in women who breastfeed for six months or longer.
The longer a woman breastfeeds, the less likely she is to develop endometrial cancer.” CBI Introduction to Lactation
My own experience with prolonged breastfeeding
I breastfed all of my three children for two years- the youngest is still breastfeeding, she is 21 months now.
Until the age of two years, a baby/toddler goes through so many things- teething, growth spurts, finding their place in this world, infections from outside, insecurities, new situations…
Breastfeeding seems to be the safe place, mentally and physically, to work through and overcome each and every one of those…
It is the special time of closeness after coming home from daycare. Toddlers search for independence, they want to discover and play by themselves. And in between, they “charge” love, security, comfort, and also nutrients, and antibodies while nursing.
I had a few situations with my babies where a bacterial infection occurs, and my pediatrician advised me to give antibiotics. I did not, because I believed my body would make the perfect medicine for my babies. And it did. Breastmilk saved my kids from several times of unnecessary medications- which we all know is more than bad.
I also almost don`t know sleepless nights- because whenever my kids were teething or sick they would feed more often during nighttime, and since we cosleep, it would not affect me too much.
My babies ( and supposedly many others) develop a special relationship with my boobs. A place where they work through everything they are going through. They pull, they push, and sometimes it feels as if they are doing gymnastics while feeding, they are spilling their guts without talking, that`s just my view of things 🙂
How to handle other people`s opinions
I always try to explain kindly why I do what I do. I never got any negative comments or anything, people ask more out of curiosity, or out of interest.
Mostly and sadly they are so convinced there are no benefits to breastmilk beyond the age of one year (or even six months!), they don`t really listen when I tell them otherwise. It surprises me so often, that people are just good at ignoring information that does not fit into their lifestyle/opinion.
Just kindly try to explain yourself, and if it does not work, say it feels right for both of you. And if someone gets rude, they just should mind their own business or get educated properly.
Limit feedings
Many moms decide to limit feedings to either only day- or only night-time. Most toddlers are able to understand when you explain the difference between day and night, and when they may be allowed to feed again.
You can also try to go with “don`t offer, don`t refuse”, or just let your baby nurse for a shorter time.
Conclusion
The decision to breastfeed is not a decision that is easy for every woman to make. But once you made it through the first months, which are the most difficult, breastfeeding just becomes a routine. And as soon as a toddler starts to walk, eat, and with becoming independent, breastfeeding is not something they totally depend on all the time.
If you feel your toddler is feeding too much, it is possible to limit feedings.
If it is too much on you, and you are getting tired, there are ways to manage -but give up totally the benefits there are before the age of two years?
Breastmilk is liquid gold-It is medicine and nourishment for your toddler, and protection and quality time for you both. Enjoy it as long as it feels right, you will soon come to miss that special thing only the two of you share!
Resources
https://pubmedinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Oddy10mentalhealth.pdf
CBI Introduction to Lactation
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/79198/9789241505307_eng.pdf
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827
