HEALTH RISKS OF NOT BREASTFEEDING

• Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Recent studies show that babies who are not exclusively breastfed for 6 months are more likely to develop a wide range of infectious diseases including ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and have more hospitalizations. Also, infants who are not breastfed have a 21% higher postneonatal infant mortality rate in the U.S.

• Some studies suggest that infants who are not breastfed have higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the first year of life, and higher rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, overweight and obesity, high cholesterol and asthma. More research in these areas is needed (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005).

• Babies who are not breastfed are sick more often and have more doctor's visits.

• Also, when you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize. Unlike human milk straight from the breast, infant formula has a chance of being contaminated.

Learn more about the health risks of not breastfeeding through:

The National Breastfeeding Campaign:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=Campaign

Science Behind the Campaign:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=ref

Other articles/citations:

Chen A, Rogan WJ. Breastfeeding and the risk of postneonatal death in the United States. Pediatrics. 2004; 113(5). Available at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/5/e435

Current as of August 2005

The following publications and organizations provide more information on the benefits of breastfeeding:

Publications

1.   Benefits of Breastfeeding (Copyright © United States Breastfeeding Committee) - This booklet explains the health and emotional benefits that breastfeeding has on mothers and babies. It also gives information on the environmental and economic benefits of breastfeeding.

   http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Issue-Papers/Benefits.pdf

2.   Breastfeeding is Priceless: No Substitute for Human Milk (Copyright © CIMS) - This publication lists the benefits of breastfeeding for full-term babies, premature babies, and mothers. It also details the cost of not breastfeeding with regards to financial loss and health risks.

   http://www.motherfriendly.org/pdf/breastfeeding.pdf

3. Got Mom... (Copyright © ACNM) - GotMom.org was created by the American College of Nurse-Midwives to provide breastfeeding information and resources for mothers and families. It contains information on why breast milk is best, dispels common misunderstandings about breastfeeding, and it provides a list of resources that can help women and families with breastfeeding.

   http://www.gotmom.org/

4.   Supplementation of the Breastfed Baby: "Just One Bottle Won't Hurt"--or Will it? (Copyright © NABA) - This publication uses research to explain differences in digestive development and cow milk sensitivity in breastfed and formula-fed babies.

   http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/images/Just%20one.pdf

5. The Risks of Infant Formula Feeding (Copyright © The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles) - This publication explains the effects of infant formula on illness, hospitalization, mortality, development, and intelligence. It also briefly describes the content of formula and the barriers to breastfeeding.

   http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/ABMRisks.htm

Organizations

1.   Womenshealth.gov, OWH, HHS
2. American Academy of Pediatrics
3. American College of Nurse-Midwives
4. Breastfeeding Basics
5. Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)
6. International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA)
7. La Leche League International
8. National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy
9. National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
10. United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)
11. World Alliance For Breastfeeding Action

= Indicates Federal Resources