tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post4406389939785923212..comments2024-01-04T04:11:55.717+02:00Comments on Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog: Craniofacial differences between bottle-fed and breastfed peopleDienekeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082684850093948970noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-55422834635419956922010-07-21T02:51:33.763+03:002010-07-21T02:51:33.763+03:00Nice to see these papers on breast feeding.
There...Nice to see these papers on breast feeding.<br /><br />There's been quite a lot of research recently about the immunological benefits of breast feeding, with the result that breast feeding is better promoted in the developing world.<br /><br />However, it's been assumed that in the developed world, we didn't need the immunological benefits of breast feeding.<br /><br />As these papers point out, there are other benefits.<br /><br />With a number of recent papers, it seems that the data is in that breast feeding at least to six months of age has significant benefit, including lower diabetes and breast cancer risk for the mother.<br /><br />Breast feeding is a demanding and time consuming proposition. Most western societies are not accepting of the natural age of weaning, which can extend well past the first year. It is also not well understood that the sucking action of a breast pump is not the same as the sucking action of a baby in terms of maintaining milk production. Because of limited maternal leave and inflexible work policies, it is difficult for women to sustain breast feeding for the optimal period.<br /><br />These studies are needed. What is also needed is a presentation of when the various benefits of breast feeding taper off. Studies don't seem to examin this. With such information, families, physicians (and hopefully governments) could then better decide how to apportion resources to support breast feeding.Marniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10850856778953207810noreply@blogger.com