Abstract
Breastfeeding is a recommended method of feeding infants, as its proven positive effects can improve the health and well-being of both the mothers and their children. Human milk can improve the immunity system of the infant and help develop the infant’s digestive system, as well as reduce the risk of certain diseases in both the mother and the infant. Breastfeeding can also be economically beneficial to the families and to the country, as it can help save money on health care in the long run. Despite the possible negative effects it can have on the health of the mother and the infant, its positive impact surpasses the potential risks.
Breastfeeding is one of the most important periods in life of infants and their parents, especially mothers, primarily because it helps strengthen the infant’s immunity system, as well as establish the attachment between a mother and her child. At the same time, breastfeeding also has economic benefits for the family and the society, as it can help reduce family spending on expensive infant formula and reduce national budget spending on medical care aimed at treating the diseases, whose increased risk is associated with the lack of breastfeeding. Nonetheless, the studies show that many American mothers either absolutely avoid breastfeeding or introduce it for a period of time that is too short to be beneficial for the infant and mother, with the rate of initiation of breastfeeding being only 75%, according to the National Immunization Survey data (“Breastfeeding and the use of human milk,” 2012, p. e828). Such rate can be explained by the perceived disadvantages of the process, including the decreased level of the mother’s comfort, complications connected with the attendance of school or workplace and with the pursuit of personal goals, as well as by the intensely marketed infant formulas and related products, etc. Nonetheless, apart from the cases, when breastfeeding puts the infant or mother at risk, it is a recommended method of feeding, as its benefits for the health and general immediate and long-term well-being of the infant, the mother, the family and the society exceed its disadvantages.
First and foremost, breastfeeding is the easiest and cheapest method of providing almost all necessary nutrients to the infant. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, breast milk contains the exact amount of vitamins, protein, and fat for the infant (“Breastfeeding your baby,” 2013, p. 1). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, this mix reduces the risk for tract infections and otitis media by 72%, while the risk for sudden infant death syndrome is reduced by 36%, the risk for gastrointestinal tract infections is reduced by 64%, and the risk for celiac disease is 52% lower for the breastfeeding infant; infants, who receive breast milk for over 3 months, are also less exposed to obesity, allergies, type 1 diabetes mellitus, childhood leukemia and lymphoma, as well as neurodevelopmental problems than children, who either received formula or received milk for less than 3 months (“Breastfeeding and the use of human milk,” 2012, pp. e828-e830). Despite the aforesaid benefits, the opponents of breastfeeding argue that as breastfed infants need to be provided with milk every couple of hours, breastfeeding can affect their sleep patterns. At the same time, infants can have allergic reaction to milk, if a mother consumes certain food or uses certain medications. Meanwhile, the latter may not be researched enough, and for this reason they can produce negative long-term impact on a child’s health. These arguments are reasonable, as, indeed, health of the infant is of the utmost importance; however, if mothers take necessary precautions, the negative risks can be significantly reduced, while the positive effects from breastfeeding certainly surpass the said risks.
Breastfeeding is also considered to be extremely beneficial for mothers, unless they have certain adverse health conditions. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding mothers have decreased blood loss after having given birth, the uterus returns to its normal size faster, and the risks for breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are also greatly reduced; moreover, breastfeeding mothers have shown less neglectful and abusive behavior towards their children than the non-breastfeeding ones (“Breastfeeding and the use of human milk,” 2012, pp. e831-e832). These short-term and long-term positive effects on a mother’s health have been proven through studies and are accompanied with the positive psychological changes, as mothers establish a long-term, strong bonding with their children through the process of regular holding and breastfeeding. At the same time, the opponents of breastfeeding state that breastfeeding mothers experience numerous inconveniences, including the lack of sleep and rest, constant fatigue, nipple pain, engorgement, blocked milk ducts and mastitis (“Breastfeeding your baby,” 2013, pp. 2-3). Also, certain medications are unavailable to them during breastfeeding because of the risk of their transfer to the infant. Another important disadvantage is the inconvenience connected with the breastfeeding mother’s return to work or school because of the necessity to constantly pump the breasts to prevent engorgement. However, often, mothers, who make a decision to give birth, take into account the aforesaid inconveniences and their responsibilities, and given the positive effects of breastfeeding, the latter is often more preferable and appealing to them than securing a certain level of comfort.
Finally, the economic benefits of breastfeeding are evident, as families with a breastfeeding mother ultimately spend less money on infant formula and related materials, and, in the long run, the government can possibly spend less budget money on medical care and support of families, where the members have good health and immune system because of being breastfed during early childhood by healthy mothers. According to the data provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics, if 90% of American mothers exclusively breastfed for at least 6 months, the savings could reach about $13 billion, not including savings related to diabetes, asthma, obesity and absenteeism from work(“Breastfeeding and the use of human milk,” 2012, p. e832). At the same time, the opponents of breastfeeding state that it can be an obstacle for mothers to get back to work or school and, thus, can put a strain on a family budget in the long run. However, given that breastfed infants are stronger and healthier, family spending on health care of a breastfed child can be a lot lesser than that on the formula-fed one. For this reason, given the advantages on a family and national levels, breastfeeding is economically more beneficial than formula-feeding.
Breastfeeding is beneficial for health of infants and mothers, as well as for the financial situation in the family and in the country. It strengthens the child’s body and can make a mother healthier and exposed to less health risks. Moreover, families and tax-payers can save huge amounts of money, if women follow the recommendations for breastfeeding. While the opponents state that it can have certain negative effects and impose risks on the health and well-being of infants and mothers, the positive effects from using this method greatly exceed the possible adverse effects. For this reason, breastfeeding should be recommended and promoted in the society to achieve the positive long-term effects on the well-being of each individual and the nation.
References
Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. (2012). Pediatrics, 129(3), e827-e841. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552
Breastfeeding your baby. (2013, June 1). Retrieved July 4, 2015, from http://www.acog.org/~/media/For Patients/faq029.pdf
