Breastfeeding Is Good but Maybe Not THAT Good

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=4678

"An article entitled “The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis,” by Bartick and Reinhold, was published in Pediatrics 2010 April 5. According to this news report, it showed that 900 babies’ lives and billions of dollars could be saved every year in the U.S. if we could get 90% of mothers to breastfeed for at least 6 months. It says breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and even childhood leukemia.

This new study did not provide any new evidence. It simply took risk ratios from a three year old government report, extrapolated, and estimated the costs.

...

This new study confirms what we already knew: that breastfeeding is better for a baby than bottle-feeding. The question is how much better, and this study really can’t answer that question. It consists of estimates based on estimates based on mixed data of varying quality. Considering the quality of the data and the pitfalls of epidemiological studies, it is likely that this new study overestimates the value of breastfeeding and the number of preventable deaths. If we could accurately calculate the numbers needed to treat (NNT) with breastfeeding to save one baby’s life or prevent one ear infection, they would be very high numbers. Mothers should be given those numbers; but they should also understand that if they bottle-feed, the odds are good that their child will thrive.

Breastfeeding is clearly better for babies, and I strongly support it, but I think the facts leave us room to support those women who make an informed choice not to breastfeed. Some women can’t produce enough milk or have health problems that interfere with breastfeeding. Some women know the benefits of breastfeeding but choose not to do it. We may not agree with their choice, but we can respect their autonomy. Thank goodness we now have safe, nutritious infant formulas that give us a choice."


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And yet the press bought everything the authors of the "new study" sold them. No questions asked? We need science reporters. Real science reporters.

:hi:

:)

Just another reason to avoid formula IMO

I don't think it was more than about 4 or 5 in his whole life. Not like me, who constantly had them and had to do the whole tubes/adenoids/tonsils bit. (And I was breastfed.)

The biggest problem for me was getting them to STOP breast-feeding. I was worried I'd have to accompany them to school.

that was the end of that at 2 and 1/2 instead. The much harder part was getting him out of our bed. That took until he was at least 3. My fault for letting him nurse while we slept but darn it, I was tired! LOL

who went to an out-of-town conference (I'm the father).

My son would accept no substitute for the real deal - it was straight from the source or no deal!

I ended up squirting breastmilk into his mouth for his night feeding with a baby medicine syringe, when he thought I was putting a pacifier in. Then on the last night, I figured out that if I mixed the breastmilk with yogurt, there was no problems!

Whole milk yogurt is a cure-all for food issues in our house.

was about to lock her office door to express some breast milk when her boss rushes in: "We've got a problem--you've got to go see a client right away!"

She said, "Okay--I've just got one little thing to do, then I'll get going."

The boss says, "No, this is URGENT--you've got to leave NOW! Have our assistant do it for you!"

She says, "I'm sure he'd be honored to, but my husband wouldn't!"

:rofl:
rocktivity

I strongly advocate breast feeding (I'm a guy), my wife breast fed for 4 years(!) and the kid was very healthy, but SHE liked it. Unhappy moms are not good for babies either. I think education is a good thing, but you have to have respect for the right of women to make their own decisions based on their own situations and feelings.

Edit: the study is based on the flawed assumption that non-breast-feeding women will get the same good results as breast-feeding women if they breast-feed too. This is, at best unproven, and at worst unlikely, unless you assume that those non-breast-feeding women have no good reasons for their choice.

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