Sharing : Mengapa IBU harus menyusui?

 

Posted by: "jo2007real" harunjo@gmail.com   jo2007real

 

Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:09 am (PDT)

 

Sory kalo terjemahannya kurang baik, karena saya bukan penerjemah, dan

juga maaf jika ada salah2 pengartian soal medis karena saya juga bukan

seorang dokter/ahli kima..mohon koreksinya, dan juga penambahannya jika

ada yang mengetahui benefit ASI lainnya.

 

Kegunaan ASI masih banyak menyimpan misteri, setiap tahunnya selalu di

temukan penelitan baru mengenai keunggulan ASI. (the baby book)

 

1. ASI lebih efisien dan murah.

 

2. ASI Eklsusif ( artinya tidak ada asupan tambahan utk bayi) mencegah

kehamilan hingga 98% selama 6 bulan setelah melahirkan.

 

3. Selama Pemberian ASI ekslusif, ibu tidak akan mengalami menstruasi

dan ini akan mengurangi resiko anemia pada ibu, menurut "institute of

medicine tahun  1991", jumlah zat besi yang digunakan tubuh untuk

menyusui lebih sedikit dibandingkan ketika tubuh mengalami menstruasi.

 

4. Anak yang diberi ASI ekslusif mempunyai IQ dan kemampuan intelektual

lebih tinggi dibanding anak yang di berikan SUSU Formula (sample pada

anak umur 7/12  sd 8 thn), semakin lama anak diberikan ASI semakin

tinggi IQnya.

 

5. ASI mengandung zat kekebalan yang membantu bayi melawan bakteri dan

virus, contohnya ketika bayi terjangkit kuman, otomatis payudara akan

otomatis.

 

memproduksi antibodi baru melalui airsusu yang di produksi, untuk

catatan Memompa Payudara tidak akan menghasilkan antibodi ini, karena

tubuh bayi tidak bersentuhan langsung dengan tubuh ibu.

 

6. ASI mengandung:

sel darah putih (leukocytes) yang sanggup membunuh bakteri dan virus,

Interferon sejenis protein yang berfungsi mengidentifikasi kehadiran

virus

Lusozyme sejenis ensim untuk melawan infeksi

dan masih banyak lagi zat2 berguna lainnya

 

7. Zat Gula (laktosa) pada ASI mampu mengurangi infeksi pada bayi dan

otak bayi membutuhkan laktosa dan galaktosa untuk berkembang.Sedangkan

Laktosa juga dibutuhkan oleh bakteri usus yang berguna (lactobacilus

bifidus) untuk berkembang.

 

8. Bayi sanggup mengontrol porsi makannya jika anda memberikan asi

ekslusif melalu payudara, jadi bayi tidak akan sakit kekenyangan.

 

9. Rata2 Bayi yang di beri ASI lebih sedikit mengalami gangguan infeksi

telinga.

 

10. Bayi yang di beri susu formula 4 kali beresiko lebih tinggi terkena

demam, bronitis, pneumonia dan gangguan pernafasan lainnya.

 

11. Gangguan Diare 3 sampai 5 kali lebih sering dijumpai pada bayi yang

di beri susu formula.

 

12. Radang selaput otak/sumsum tulang belakang dan infeksi saluran

kencing lebih banyak di jumpai pada bayi yang di berikan susu formula.

 

13. Bayi yang di berikan susu formula 10 kali lebih sering masuk dirawat

di rumah sakit karena mengalami infeksi serius di bandingkan bayi yang

di beri ASI.

 

14. bayi yang di berikan susu formula yang berumur 10 hari 30 kali

beresiko mengidap Neonatal hypocalcemia , yang mengakibatkan

kejang,sawan dan ayan ini karena susu formula mengandung phosphate yang

sangat tinggi

 

15. Susu Formula diketahui menjadi penyebab bayi yang mengidap diabetes.

 

16. Kanker kelenjar 5-8 kali lebih tinggi untuk bayi yang diberikan susu

formula atau bayi yang diberikan ASI kurang dari 6 bulan.

 

17. Pemberian ASI membantu tubuh bayi untuk mendapat kolesterol baik,

ini artinya melindungi bayi dari penyakit jantung pada saat dewasa, ASI

mengandung. kolesterol tinggi(fatty acid) yang berguna untuk bayi dalam

membangun jaringan2 saraf dan otak, Susu Sapi tidak mengandung

cholesterol.

 

18. Bayi yang di berikan susu formula cendrung mengidap alergi, termasuk

alergi pada susu sapi dan kedelai.

 

19. ASI mencegah 40% resiko Asma pada anak.

 

20. Bayi yang di berikan susu formula sangat tinggi resikonya terkena

ganguan pencernaan (pyloric stenosis, yang penyembuhannya harus lewat

operasi

 

21. Susu formula diduga menjadi penyebab beberapa penyakit berbahaya

seperti celiac http://www.celiac.com/,ulcerative

colitis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcerative_colitis  dan Chron

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/

 

22. Bayi yang di beri asi eklusif selama 3 bulan 40% beresiko lebih

rendah dalam mengidap infeksi Gastrointestinal

(http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/infections/bacterial_viral/diarrhea.html\) dan atopic eczema (peradangan pada kulit

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068730/) (Kramer et al., JAMA #285,

2001)

 

23. ASI melindungi bayi dari diarre. Diarre telah membunuh 500 bayi dan

anak setiap tahunnya di amerika serikat. ASi mengandung zat2 yang

disebut bakteria  yang baik bagi pencernaan bayi yang dapat

mengurangi bakteri yang menyebabkan diare

 

24. ASI melindungi bayi dari penyakit langka botulism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulism(Arnon 1986), penyakit ini merusak

fungsi saraf, menimbulkan berbagai penyakit pernapasan, dan kelumpuhan

otot.

 

25. ASI membuat tulang bayi lebih kuat

 

26. Kematian mendadak (SIDS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_infant_death_syndrome) pada bayi

lebih banyak dialami oleh bayi yang di berikan susu formula. Susu

formula sangat rendah kandungan tryptophan yang sangat dibutuhkan badan

untuk membentuk serotonin, serotonin adalah zat yang berfungsi mengatur

tidur, Penelitian pada bayi yang meninggal mendadak rata2 mempunyai zat

serotonin (yang sangat rendah pada otak.Susu ibu sangat tinggi

kandungan tryptophan. catatan: SIDS sampai sekarang masih belum

ditemukan penyebab utamanya.

 

27. Susu formula selalu dihubungkan sebagai salah satu penyebab autis,

keterlambatan dalam berbicara dan kesulitan belajar pada bayi.

 

28. ASI mengurangi penyakit gigi berlubang pada anak, (tidak berlaku

pada asi dengan botol)

Karena menyusui lewat payudara ada semacam keran, jika bayi stop

menghisap, otomatis asupan asi akan stop juga, dan tidak seperti pada

botol, jadi asi tidak akan mengumpul pada gigi dan menyebabkan gigi

berlubang

 

29.Susu formula kurang mengandung DHA, omega-3 dan zat2 lainnya yang

diperlukan dalam membentuk otak bayi

 

30. Asam amino pada ASI membantu perkembangan otak sedangkan Asam amino

pada susu formula (susu sapi) hanya membantu pertumbuhan otot dan

jaringannya

 

31. ASI mengandung zat mucin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucinyang

dibutuhkan untuk mencegah penyakit pada bayi

 

32. SUSU formula 600 kali lebih banyak mengandung zat alumunium di

bandingkan ASI. Dalam beberapa kasus zat alumunium ditemukan 1000 kali

lebih banyak terkandung pada susu formula di bandingkan asi. alumunium

dan alzheimers :

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=\99

 

33. Susu formula banyak mengandung logam2 berat seperi merkuri dan

timah, 20% air pencampur susu di amerika serikat terkontaminasi oleh

timah, dan jika air2  ini di rebus untuk membuat steril botol susu

ini akan lebih meningkatkan jumlah timah. Keracunan timah menyebabkan

kerusakan otak dan saraf, gagal ginjal dll

 

34.Banyak jenis Susu formula yang terkontaminasi oleh banyak bakteri

 

35. Dari 7 sampai 10 sample susu formula ditemukan dosis vitamin D yang

berlebihan, 7 sampai 10 sample mengandung 200% dosis vitamin D dari yang

tertera pada kemasan, bahkan ada yang dosisnya lebih dari 419% dari

dosis yang tertulis pada kemasan.Kelebihan Vitamin D akan menyebabkan

keracunan

 

36. Susu Formula mengandung

"phthalates"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate(sebuah zat kimia

yang digunakan dalam industri plastik), yang jika di  konsumsi akan

mengakibatkan kemandulan, kerusakan hati(liver) with the reproductive

tract, including infertility, also liver damage, and kimia ini bersifat

carcinogenic (mengandung radiasi yang menyebabkan berbagai macam

kanker).

 

37. Susu formula mengandung iodine dalam dosis tinggi yang akan

mengganggu kerja kelenjar thyroid(Fisher 1989)

 

38. Kacang kedelai hasil dari rekayasa genetika adalah bahan utama dari

susu formula dari bahan kedelai (http://www.gefoodalert.org)

 

39. Susu Formula mengandung glutamate http://www.glutamate.org/

(MSG-Asam amino) yang merusak fungsi hypothalamus pada otak - glutamate

adalah salah satu zat yang dicurigai menjadi penyebab autis.

 

40. Susu sapi yang digunakan untuk membuat susu formula kadangkala

berasal dari sapi yang telah di beri antibiotik dan BGH(bovine growth

hormone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin) hormon untuk

mempercepat pertumbuhan hewan.

 

41. Kandungan Susu Formula dapat berubah karena faktor pengolahan pada

waktu di produksi di pabrik dan pada waktu pengolahan ketika akan di

konsumsi oleh konsumen (contoh: air yang terkontaminasi ketika akan

mencampur susu, wadah untuk susu yang terkontaminasi,dll)

 

42. Komposisi ASI yang di produksi oleh tubuh ibu akan selalu sesuai

dengan kebutuhan umur bayi.

Contohnya ketika bayi terlahir prematur, ibu akan memproduksi ASI yang

mengandung protein dan lemak yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan ibu yang

melahirkan normal. Dan ketika bayi sudah mulai belajar makan, Protein

yang terkandung pada asi akan semakin tinggi tetapi volume asi pada

payudara akan menurun.

 

43. Kebutuhan vitamin bayi yang masih menyusui berbeda dengan bayi yang

sudah mulai belajar makan

 

44. ASI sangat mudah dicerna bayi, karena ASI mengandung ensim yang

membantu bayi untuk mencernanya, ASI mengandung ensim lemak yang mudah

di cerna. Zat besi  pada ASI 50%-70% dengan mudah di serap tubuh bayi

dibandingkan Zat besi pada susu formula (10%) karena Susu formula tidak

mengandung ensim seperti pada ASI

 

45. ASI mengandung 100 komposisi yang tidak dimiliki oleh susu formula.

 

46. Otot2 rahang dan wajah ketika bayi menghisap puting ibu merasangsang

pertumbuhan mulut dan gigi. Menyusui dengan Botol menyebabkan masalah

pada pertumbuhan mulut dan gigi(malocclusion).

 

47. Aktifitas Menyusui merangsang pertumbuhan saraf2 bayi

 

48. Menyusui mencegah dan meringankan postpartum hemorrhage (pendarahan

pada

rahim)http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/peds_hrpregnant/pos\tpart.cfmkarena ketika payudara di hisap merangsang tubuh ibu

mengeluarkan hormon oxytocin, hormon ini berguna untuk mengerutkan rahim

hingga hampir kembali seperti seukuran semula, Setiap kali anda menyusui

dengan payudara anda akan merasakan kontraksi pada rahim, ini tanda2

hormon oksitosin sedang bekerja.

 

49. Menyusui melindungi ibu dari kanker payudara, semakin lama ibu

menyusui, semakin kecil seorang ibu terkena kanker payudara.

Pada Penelitian di UK, China, Jepang, new zealand dan mexico. Byers et

al. 1985; McTiernan and Thomas 1986; Furberg et al 1999, British Medical

Journal #307 1993)

 

50. Menyusui melindungi ibu dari kanker indung telur(Gwinn et al. 1990)

 

51. Menyusui melindungi ibu dari kanker leher rahim(Brock et al. 1989)

 

52.Menyusui melindungi ibu dari osteoporosis(Aloia et al. 1985; Koetting

and Wardlaw 1988) Setelah menyusui, kepadatan tulang ibu akan kembali

seperti sebelum hamil bahkan lebih baik (Sowers 1995)

 

53. Menyusui menurunkan resiko dari "hip fractures"

(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hip-fracture/DS00185) setelah

menopause. (Cummings 1993)

 

54. Menyusui Breastfeeding merubah berat yang di peroleh ketika masa

kehamilan menjadi susu, seorang ibu yang menyusui tidak perlu diet untuk

mengembalikan postur tubuh sebelum kehamilan, karena memproduksi asi

membutuhkan 600-800 kalori sehari ini sebanding dengan bersepeda pada

tanjakan selama 1 jam atau berenang 30 kali putaran

 

55.Prolactin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolactin), adalah salah satu

hormon yang di produksi ketika menyusui, kegunaan hormon ini adalah

mengurangi stres (adrenalin) (Altemus 1995) .

Prolactin dijuluki hormon keibuan "mothering hormone" dan membantu

ikatan ibu dan anaknya. Hormon prolactin ini efeknya sangat kuat, pada

penelitian , hormon ini diberikan pada ayam2 jago petarung dan ketika di

suntikkan ayam2 ini menjadi enggan untuk bertarung.

 

56. Pemberian Susu Formula sangat merepotkan, menghabiskan banyak waktu

untuk mencuci botol susu dan aksesoriesnya saja membutuhkan waktu 1 jam

sehari, apalagi jika jauh dari rumah dan harus memberikan susu pada

bayi, ibu akan kesulitan untuk menghangatkan susu pada botol tersebut.

 

57. Pemberian susu dengan payudara sangat simple, dibandingkan dengan

botol susu anda harus bangun dari tidur, menghangatkan botol dan duduk

ketika anda harus memberikan susu.

 

58.Bayi2 yang disusui dengan susu formula cendrung mengalami sembelit

(konstipasi), sendang kan ASI mengandung zat pencahar alami yang

membantu bayi buang air besar.

 

59.Bayi yang disusui lebih langsing di bandingkan Bayi yang diberikan

Susu formula cendrung obesitas(study "DARLING" pada University of

California 1992)

 

60.Kolostrum (air susu yg keluar pertama) sangat berguna, pada bulan

pertama pencernaan bayi belum matang , mirip seperti saringan yang

membiarkan benda asing (proten alergenik) masuk ke aliran darah bayi

yang berpotensi menyebabkan alergi. IgA (imunoglobulin) dalam ASI

menyediakan selaput pelindung yang berguna untuk menutup kebocoran dalam

lapisan usus dan mencegah lewatnya kuman serta zat2 penyebab alergi yang

tidak diundang.

 

61.Memberikan ASI = Mengimuniasi bayi anda setiap waktu

 

62.ASI mengandung lemak yang sangat baik dan mudah tercerna, Bayi2 yang

disusui ASI, mempunyai kotoran yang lembut dan bayi2 yang diberi susu

formula kotorannya bertekstur lebih kasar dan baunya lebih tidak

sedap. Ini menandakan tidak semua Zat dalam susu Formula dapat terserap

oleh tubuh bayi.

 

63.Penyusuan dengan Payudara, membuat ibu yang sibuk menjadi lebih

relaks dan membantu ibu2 yang mempunyai kesulitan tidur untuk relaks.

 

64.Penyusuan adalah latihan seorang ibu dalam membaca karakter bayi

anda. Orang tua yang mengetahui karakter/sifat anak, akan lebih mudah

untuk mendidiknya.

 

65.Penglihatan pada anak lebih baik pada anak yang diberi ASI.

 

Ref:

http://www.babyloveproducts.com/57reasons.html

http://www.askdrsears.com

 

BR:

PAPA JO

bukan mbak Jo atau mom jo hehehe jangan salah lagi yaa

 

57 Reasons to Breastfeed
Grace Marcinkoski, Editor

The information below is not meant to offend the rare mom in a circumstance that precludes breastfeeding! Most women have a choice, and these are facts you will want to know. Too many mothers get this information too late. Your decision will have a life-long effect on your child!

Most women can breast feed. If you are having trouble, organizations such as La Leche League (LLL)will give you expert advice (Free), and lactation consultants will provide specialized help (for a fee, since they are professionals). You may be discouraged because your wondering if your milk supply is adequate, or because you have sore nipples, and so on. What you need most is information--and the best way to get it is from other women (LLL or a lactation consultant). The next best way is from breastfeeding books--sometimes you need to search through several books to find information on your particular situation.
Sometimes, women have been told by doctors or nurses that they cannot breast feed because of a medication they are on, or because of a medical condition they or their baby have. However, check with a breastfeeding group like LLL, or a lactation consultant, because in many of those cases breastfeeding IS possible. It is currently known that most medications have few side effects in breastfeeding infants because the dose transferred via milk is almost always too low to be clinically relevant, or it is poorly bioavailable to the infant. (Hale, 2000)
Sometimes well-meaning nurses will get new moms incorrectly started with breast-feeding. For example, one mom we know was given a nipple shield because she got sore nipples from baby not being latched on correctly. The nipple shield just complicated things and within a week and a half, this mom had switched to bottle-feeding. So, if you're having trouble, don't wait--get help from specialists--your local breastfeeding group or lactation consultant. If you ask other medical professionals, chances are that you will receive poor advice since breastfeeding is not their specialty. (Who would you choose to deliver your baby, an obstetrician or a dental surgeon?)

If your baby has a special condition such as cleft palate, experts can help you breastfeed.
Until recently, I thought that adoptive moms could produce some breast milk but would have to supplement with formula. But, according to an article in the Compleat Mother magazine, a study at a hospital in India showed that adoptive mothers CAN breastfeed. The mothers were given metoclopramide to induce lactation. The mothers began to lactate between 4-8 days. (Compleat Mother/Indian Pediatrics, 2000; 37:1114)

(My first baby was colicky, so I thought I didn't have enough milk. There was no one to ask for advice, so after two weeks, I switched to formula. The baby was still colicky, but I did not realize the benefits of breastfeeding, so I just continued with the formula. My second baby was 3 months old when I went back to work, and the amount of milk I was getting from pumping gradually decreased, so he was eventually totally on formula. If I had known the benefits of breastfeeding and the problems with baby formula, I would have done things differently!)

 

1.       It costs about $150 Canadian a month to buy formula.* If you do not want to go back to work, breastfeeding will help because you do not have to include the expense of formula in your budget. (You can save even more by using cloth diapers for baby, and not needing to buy work clothes, transportation, and work lunch/coffee for yourself.)
*The figures are from an INFACT Canada survey, 1997. Costs vary depending what part of the country you live in. Using figures from an Enfalac formula pamphlet and from Dr. Sears "Baby Book", we calculated that a baby will use between 6000-12000 ounces of formula during the first 8 months of life. In our community, Camrose, a case of Enfalac concentrate (12 cans each containing 385 ml/13 oz of concentrate) sells for $24.77. The concentrate needs to be mixed with an equal amount of water. Doing the math, we found that an 8 month supply of formula would cost between $500-$1100 Canadian if it was purchased in our city. You can check your own local cost using this calculation method. These figures do not include cost of bottle liners and bottles.

2.       Exclusive breastfeeding (no supplements for baby) provides 98% pregnancy prevention for the first six months after birth. (Kennedy et al. 1989) If you think you might fall into the remaining 2% and do NOT want another baby, use birth control!

3.       Because an exclusively breastfeeding mother does not menstruate, she has a decreased risk of iron-deficiency anemia compared to a mother who bottle feeds. The amount of iron her body uses to produce breastmilk is less than the amount of iron lost in menstruation. (Institute of Medicine 1991)

4.       *Breastfed children have higher IQs and intellectual ability than formula-fed children. And the longer the child is breastfed, the higher her IQ is likely to be, regardless of the family income and educational level. (Many studies: Morley et al. 1988; Morrow-Tlucak et al. 1988; Bauer et al. 1991; Taylor and Wadsworth 1984; Lucas et al. 1992; Fergusson et al. 1982; Horwood et al. 1998)
*Studies done with preemie babies show that babies fed their own mother's milk after birth had significantly higher IQ scores at age 7 1/2 to 8 years of age.

5.       Breast milk contains antibodies that help baby fight off bacteria and viruses. When the baby is exposed to a germ, his mother's breast also is exposed to it, and the breast immediately manufactures a new antibody which is then passed on to baby through the breast milk! NOTE: Pumping your milk instead of actually nursing baby will not result in this transfer of anti-bodies.

6.       Mother's milk contains live white cells (leukocytes) which destroy bacteria and viruses. Secretory IgA is an antibody made by the leukocytes. Interferon is a protein produced by leukocytes in breast milk to warn surrounding cells if a virus is present. Lysozyme is an enzyme in breast milk that fights infection. And there are more--breast milk is truly powerful!

7.       The complex sugars in human milk curtail infections by preventing the binding of pathogens to the infant's cells.

8.       You cannot overfeed a baby with breast milk.

9.       Formula-fed babies get 3 to 4 times more ear infections than breast-fed babies. (Saarinen 1982)

10.    Colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections are 4 times greater in formula-fed babies. (Wright et al. 1989)

11.    Diarrheal infections occur 3 to 5 times more often in formula-fed babies. (Feachem and Koblinsky 1984).

12.    Meningitis (which is sometimes fatal) and urinary tract infections are more common among formula-fed babies. (Pisacane et al. 1992; Cochi et al. 1986) The bacteria H. influenzas causes meningitis and bacteremia, and the risk is 4 to 16 times greater for formula-fed babies.

13.    Formula-fed babies are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized for a serious infection than breast-fed babies. (Fallot et al. 1980)

14.    During the first ten days of life, formula-fed infants are at risk for neonatal hypocalcemic tetany. This can result in twitching, convulsions and atypical seizures due to the high phosphate load in formula. This risk factor is 30 times higher for formula fed babies than breastfed babies.

15.    Childhood diabetes (insulin-dependent) is linked to formula feeding. (Mayer et al. 1988) Studies have shown that when formula or cow's milk is introduced before the age of one year, the baby is more likely to develop diabetes.

16.    The risk of developing lymphoma (cancer of the glands) during childhood is 5-8 times higher for babies fed formula or breastfed less than 6 months than for babies nursed longer. (Davis et al. 1988)

17.    Breastfeeding helps program baby's body to metabolize cholesterol, which protects against heart disease later in life. Human milk is high in cholesterol, a fatty acid which is essential for baby to develop a strong nervous system and brain. Cows' milk formulas do not contain cholesterol.

18.    Formula-fed babies are more likely to have allergies, including cow's milk and soy allergy. Formula-fed babies have more wheezing, colds, diarrhea, vomiting than breastfed babies. (Merrett et al. 1988) Colostrum helps the intestinal walls of a newborn "close" so that whole proteins cannot pass through the walls, causing allergic reactions.

19.    Breastfeeding reduces the risk of childhood asthma. A study done in Australia showed that infants breastfed for the first 4 months of life had a risk reduction of childhood asthma of at least 40%. (Oddy et al. 1999)

20.    Formula-fed babies have a higher incidence of a stomach obstruction called pyloric stenosis, which requires surgical repair. (Habbick et al. 1989)

21.    Intestinal diseases such as celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's are linked to formula feeding. (Greco et al. 1988; Koletzko et al. 1989)

22.    In a study done in Belarus, infants exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months had a 40% lower risk of developing gastrointestinal infections and a 46% lower risk of developing atopic eczema. (Kramer et al., JAMA #285, 2001)

23.    Breastfeeding protects against diarrhea. Diarrhea kills 500 infants and young children each year in the USA. Mother's milk contains lactose and a bifidus factor which encourages "good bacteria" in baby's intestines, and which discourages bacteria that cause diarrhea.

24.    Breastfeeding protects against fatal infant botulism. (Arnon 1986)

25.    Breastfeeding increases a child's bone mineral density--stronger bones!

26.    Crib death (SIDS) risk is 3.7 to 5 times greater for formula-fed babies. (Mitchell et al. 1991) Infant formulas are low in tryptophan, which is needed for the body to make serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which regulates sleep, among other things. Researchers said that they have found reduced serotonin levels in the brain of infants who have died of SIDS, as well as other changes in the availability of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. (Journal of Childhood Neurology 6, no.4 , 335-39, Oct/91)
Breast milk is high in tryptophan. Experts cannot agree on the exact cause of SIDS, but various studies tell us what the risk factors are. Parents can therefore decrease the risk that their baby may die of SIDS.

27.    Formula feeding is associated with autism, learning disabilities, and speech problems. (Several studies: Broad and Duganzich 1983; Dorner and Grychtolik 1978; Collipp et al. 1983; Tanoue and Oda 1989)

28.    Breastfed babies have fewer cavities. Night nursings do not contribute to cavities since the milk flow stops if baby dozes off and stops sucking.

29.    Formula lacks DHA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid in breastmilk, and formula lacks other essential fatty acids necessary for proper brain and visual development.

30.    The amino acid balance in mother's milk promotes brain growth, whereas cows' milk-based formulas have amino acids that promote growth of muscle and fat tissue.

31.    Breastmilk contains mucin, an acid-based protein that prevents intestinal illness in baby.

32.    Formula may contain up to 600 times the amount of aluminum found in breastmilk. (Bishop et al. 1989, and Health Canada study) In some cases soy-based formulas have had as much as 1000 times the amount of aluminum found in breast milk.

33.    Formula may contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead. Also 20% of U.S. homes have tap water contaminated with lead. If this water is boiled to sterilize it for formula, this increases the lead levels even more. Lead poisoning causes brain and nervous system damage, kidney damage, and more.

34.    There have been cases where formula has been contaminated with bacteria. (That's one reason all formula is assigned with a batch number.) Recent recalls include a recall of Isomil because defects in the can lids allowed contamination, Enfamil because the cans actually contained adult supplement, Follow-up because it was lumpy and curdled. Other recalls were because formula concentrate was accidentally labelled "do not add water", formula that had missing or inadequate nutrients, and formula with glass particles in it.

35.    Recently, formula-fed babies were exposed to excessive concentrations of vitamin D in formulas sampled for it. Seven of ten samples contained >200% of label claims; one had 419% of the stated label claim. Vitamin D is toxic in high doses.

36.    Formula contains phthalates (a chemical used in manufacturing plastic), which cause problems with the reproductive tract, including infertility, also liver damage, and they are carcinogenic.

37.    Formula contains high levels of iodine which may affect thyroid function. (Fisher 1989)

38.    Genetically engineered soy beans are used to make soy formula.

39.    Formula contains glutamate (MSG-type amino acid) which damages the hypothalamus in the brain.

40.    Milk used to make formula can come from cows fed BGH (bovine growth hormone) and contains residue of antibiotics given to the cows. Formula is often imported, so the milk comes from cows treated with medications that are allowed in the country they are in, even though those medications may not be allowed in the country where the formula is consumed.

41.    Formula constituents can change depending on manufacturing variations, inaccuracy of measuring at home when adding water to concentrated formula, or settling of formula in the can. Sometimes low-income families will over-dilute formula, introduce solids too early, or substitute cow's milk or juice.

42.    The composition of breast milk is tailor-made for your baby's ages and growth stages. For example, the mother of a premature baby produces milk higher in protein and fat than milk that is produced by the mother of a full-term baby. And, when baby begins to wean, the protein content of breastmilk increases as the supply decreases, thus keeping the nutritional level high for a longer time. Even within a feeding, the composition of breast milk changes--the hind milk at the end of a feeding has a higher fat content which will leave baby feeling satisfied. If both breasts are used in a feeding, the hind and fore milk will mix in the second breast, giving milk that has more calories and fat.

43.    The ratio of vitamins in the system of breastfed babies is different from that of babies fed formula.

44.    Breast milk is easily and nearly completely digested, because it has enzymes that help baby digest it. For example, it contains a fat-digesting enzyme, lipase. Up to 50% of iron in mother's milk is absorbed by the baby, compared to only 4% from formula. Baby formula does not contain enzymes.

45.    Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients that are not in cow's milk.

46.    The work of the jaw and facial muscles when baby sucks at the breast enhance development of the mouth and teeth. Bottle feeding can cause problems with the way the jaws and teeth grow (malocclusion).

47.    Activities in which babies use opposite sides of the body (such as right/left movement of arms and legs in crawling), benefit baby's neurological development. When baby changes from breast to breast, it gives baby visual exercise on alternate sides, beginning at birth.

48.    Breastfeeding prevents postpartum hemorrhage because it releases oxytocin hormone, contracting the uterus.

49.    Breastfeeding protects the mother against breast cancer, and the longer she breastfeeds, the less the risk is. (Studies were done in the UK, China, Japan, New Zealand, and Mexico. Byers et al. 1985; McTiernan and Thomas 1986; Furberg et al 1999, British Medical Journal #307 1993) Women who were breastfed as infants show a decrease of 25% in breast cancer rates compared to women fed formula as infants. This can be restated as follows: Women who were fed formula as infants had a 33.3% increase in breast cancer rates.

50.    Breastfeeding protects the mother against ovarian cancer. (Gwinn et al. 1990)

51.    Breastfeeding protects the mother against cervical cancer. (Brock et al. 1989)

52.    Breastfeeding protects the mother against osteoporosis (Aloia et al. 1985; Koetting and Wardlaw 1988) After breastfeeding, a mother's bone density returns to pre-pregnancy or even higher levels. (Sowers 1995)

53.    Breastfeeding decreases the risk of hip fractures after menopause. (Cummings 1993)

54.    Breastfeeding converts weight gained during pregnancy into milk; there is no need to diet to get back to pre-pregnancy weight. Milk production uses between 600-800 calories per day. A bottle-feeding mother would have to bicycle uphill for at least an hour or swim at least 30 laps in a pool to use those calories!

55.    Prolactin, a hormone produced while breastfeeding, reduces stress--breastfeeding mothers have a less intense response to adrenaline. (Altemus 1995) Prolactin is called the "mothering hormone" and helps a mother bond with her baby. Prolactin is so strong that, in tests, when it was given to roosters bred to fight, they could not be made to do so!