Sariah Saili
BIOL 1610, Section 009
Dr. Michaela A. Gazdik Stofer
January 18th 2017
As a Registered Nurse practicing in the Pediatrics, Mother Baby and Newborn Intensive Care areas, I'm always interested in things pertaining to the health and wellness of women and children. Caring for hospitalized asthmatic children and postpartum women beginning to breastfeed are two things I do on a regular basis, so finding this article was naturally of particular interest to me.
Breastfeeding education is a big part of my job. There's a big push in the medical community for choosing breastfeeding over formula feeding; and for very good reason. Besides the fact that it's cost-free and provides a great bonding experience for mom and babe, there are wellness benefits for both parties involved. It's been cited to me many times through my job that women who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast cancer, have less postpartum depression and are able to return to their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly and therefore feel healthier sooner. Babies who are breastfed have the added benefit of mom's antibodies protecting them through infancy, contract fewer viruses in childhood, and are less likely to develop diabetes later in life.
Well, here's yet another reason to endorse "Breast is Best!" Babies with a genetic predisposition for asthma may have fewer respiratory episodes and symptoms if they are breastfed.
A genome analysis was done on 368 Swiss babies. They underwent a weekly assessment of the occurrence and severity of respiratory symptoms and breastfeeding status for the entire first year of life.
Researchers found that the infants who carried genes placing them at risk for asthma had a 27% decrease in symptoms if they were breastfed. The same infants' symptoms came back on the weeks they were not being breastfed. The researchers do state that the study should be repeated in another group of infants to see if the results hold constant but that it could be a good way to protect asthmatic infants.
I thought it was interesting that the improvement of respiratory status was only seen on the weeks that the infant was breastfed--and that the symptoms returned when the infant was not. Although it seems a child who turns 12 months old and stops breastfeeding may experience a worsening of symptoms; this is still valuable data, as the greatest risk of serious complications in asthma patients is during infancy when their airways are so small.
Breastfeeding is usually a lot more difficult than primagravidas in our society anticipate, and although most women leave the hospital at postpartum day two with an "exclusively breastfeeding" status on their medical chart, only a small percentage keep that status until their infant is 12 months of age as recommended. This is just another reason for moms to keep at it and get the lactation assistance they need to push through for a whole year.
Article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/breast-feeding-benefits-babies-with-genetic-asthma-risk/
Study Abstract: http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA1215
As a Registered Nurse practicing in the Pediatrics, Mother Baby and Newborn Intensive Care areas, I'm always interested in things pertaining to the health and wellness of women and children. Caring for hospitalized asthmatic children and postpartum women beginning to breastfeed are two things I do on a regular basis, so finding this article was naturally of particular interest to me.
Breastfeeding education is a big part of my job. There's a big push in the medical community for choosing breastfeeding over formula feeding; and for very good reason. Besides the fact that it's cost-free and provides a great bonding experience for mom and babe, there are wellness benefits for both parties involved. It's been cited to me many times through my job that women who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast cancer, have less postpartum depression and are able to return to their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly and therefore feel healthier sooner. Babies who are breastfed have the added benefit of mom's antibodies protecting them through infancy, contract fewer viruses in childhood, and are less likely to develop diabetes later in life.
Well, here's yet another reason to endorse "Breast is Best!" Babies with a genetic predisposition for asthma may have fewer respiratory episodes and symptoms if they are breastfed.
A genome analysis was done on 368 Swiss babies. They underwent a weekly assessment of the occurrence and severity of respiratory symptoms and breastfeeding status for the entire first year of life.
Researchers found that the infants who carried genes placing them at risk for asthma had a 27% decrease in symptoms if they were breastfed. The same infants' symptoms came back on the weeks they were not being breastfed. The researchers do state that the study should be repeated in another group of infants to see if the results hold constant but that it could be a good way to protect asthmatic infants.
I thought it was interesting that the improvement of respiratory status was only seen on the weeks that the infant was breastfed--and that the symptoms returned when the infant was not. Although it seems a child who turns 12 months old and stops breastfeeding may experience a worsening of symptoms; this is still valuable data, as the greatest risk of serious complications in asthma patients is during infancy when their airways are so small.
Breastfeeding is usually a lot more difficult than primagravidas in our society anticipate, and although most women leave the hospital at postpartum day two with an "exclusively breastfeeding" status on their medical chart, only a small percentage keep that status until their infant is 12 months of age as recommended. This is just another reason for moms to keep at it and get the lactation assistance they need to push through for a whole year.
Article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/breast-feeding-benefits-babies-with-genetic-asthma-risk/
Study Abstract: http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA1215
I enjoy this post for several reasons. Being someone with asthmatic symptoms, I am glad that my mom breastfed me. I also am happy to see scientific research backing the validity of breastfeeding. Also being someone who will start a family within the next few years, data such as this is crucial as I strive to give my future children all possible advantages and the best possible living circumstances. I find it interesting how the data was positive yet mothers often stop breastfeeding early. This could possibly be out of laziness or a lack of knowledge of the advantages. Either way, I enjoy hearing how I can help to make my future kids stronger and happier.
ReplyDeleteMichael Poyfair
Thank you for sharing this post. As an expecting mother I am thrilled to learn more about the ways of motherhood and how to have the best care for my child to come. It also makes me think of my brother who has asthma and how it has not effected him that much as he has gotten older because of the great care my mom did to breastfeed him and all of us kids. As I was reading this post I was thinking about how do you continue to breastfeed when your baby's teeth have already started to grown in? I would think that would hurt. It is a wonderful fact of life that we can bring children into this world and help them to grow and to have a bright future.
ReplyDelete-KB
KB,
DeleteThe American Academy of Pediatrics says that although baby teeth can come in at any age (and some babies are even born with some teeth), the majority of infants don't get teeth until they reach 6 months of age. Usually the center bottom teeth come in first, and an actively nursing infant won't bite because their tongue is held such that it is covering the bottom row of teeth in order to draw milk out of the nipple. Most babies will be approaching their birthday by the time top teeth are coming in. Even then, it's possible for babies with any kind of teeth to nip their mother at the end of the feeding. However, a finger kept near the corner of the mouth can be used to break suction and put away the breast, before a playful or teething baby can bite. If the baby does bite, saying "no" firmly, and taking away the breast will teach a baby quickly that biting results in no breast; which isn't something they want to happen!
Congratulations on the coming birth of your baby! I can tell you from personal experience with my son; I have been bitten and yes, it did hurt! But, it only happened twice before he learned it wasn't okay, and he had 8 teeth by the time we were done breastfeeding.
SS
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/When-Your-Baby-Gets-Teeth.aspx
Thank you for your post! I love hearing about the positive effects of breastfeeding. I am particularly interested in the idea that babies get antibodies from their mother. Could that be what is helping to reduce the symptoms of ashma? Or is it something else? -EN
ReplyDeleteHi EN,
ReplyDeleteAccording to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the increased antibodies provided by breastfeeding would indeed help prevent asthma by reducing the risk of lung infections which are common triggers. Although I was incapable of finding studies that explained the entire mechanism by which breastfeeding works in preventing asthma, and it may not yet be fully understood, in the very least it is safe to say that the increased antibodies provided by a mother’s milk lowers the risk of infection, which indirectly lowers the risk of asthma.
KL
Source: https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/at-a-glance/prevention-of-allergies-and-asthma-in-children
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA1215