Benefits of Breastfeeding and Breast Cancer
DOHA: Breastfeeding is not just beneficial to the babies; it can do wonders to a mother’s health and wellbeing too. Researches have shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of second most common type of cancer – breast cancer, apart from many other benefits it gives.
The ability to feed its own child is what separates mammals from other classes of animals. Still most human mothers abstain from breastfeeding. “One of the best choices a mother can ever take to breastfeed. Breastfeeding gives a protective covering through out the life not only to the baby but also to the mother,” said Dr Mohammed Ilyas Khan, Lactation Consultant, Al Khor Hospital.
Breastfeeding helps mother to recover from childbirth. “Breastfeeding can help shrink the uterus to its pre-pregnancy state and reduces the amount of blood lost after delivery. These mothers will also return to their pre-pregnant weight more rapidly than bottle-feeding mothers. They usually resume their menstrual cycles 20 to 30 weeks later than bottle-feeding women, which is good for the body.”
Breastfeeding keeps women healthier throughout their lives. It is an important factor in child spacing among women who do not use contraceptives. “Studies have also shown that women who breastfeed their infants are less likely to develop multiple sclerosis and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. During lactation, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels decline while the beneficial HDL level remains high. Carbohydrate metabolism is also improved. Above all, it promotes maternal confidence,” he said.
Researches carried out in many places have shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancer.
The hormone estrogen fuels 80 percent of breast cancers. Since pregnancy and lactation reduce estrogen levels, the risk of estrogen-fueled breast cancer is decreased in pregnancy and while you are nursing your baby. The hormone balances are different during lactation, resulting in fewer menstrual cycles and less estrogen exposure. Environmental carcinogens that are stored in fat, which makes up a great part of the breast, cannot be efficiently stored in lactating breasts. Breastfeeding may cause changes to breast cells that make them more resistant to cancer-related mutations.
A study published in 2008 shows that breastfeeding for at least six months appeared to be most protective for cancers which are not sensitive to estrogen, progesterone and that are HER2 protein negative- the “triple negative” breast cancer. It also shows that estrogen-fueled breast cancer was 20 percent less common among women who breastfed for six moths compared to mother who did not.
Another research shows an approximate 20 percent reduced risk of ovarian cancer in parous women who had ever breastfed compared to those who had never breastfed. One theory of how breastfeeding may help protect women from ovarian cancer is that breastfeeding reduces the total number of ovulations. Lactation provides a hypoestrogenic effect with less stimulation of the endometrial lining. This event may offer a protective effect from endometrial cancer.
Human Milk is a ‘dream product’ that can feed and immunize every one on Earth. It is available everywhere, require no storage and help mothers to plan their families and reduce the risk of cancer, according to UNICEF .
“Mothers take their babies for vaccination even though they know that the needle can cause pain and later fever can also occur. Human milk is full with immunizers and can cause no harm to the baby or the mother,” Dr Khan said.
Human milk is easy to digest and contains all the nutrients that babies need in the early months of life. It contains special enzymes to optimally digest and absorb the nutrients in the milk before infants are capable of producing these enzymes themselves. It has multiple growth and maturation factors. Factors in breast milk protect infants from a wide variety of illnesses. It has antibodies specific to illnesses encountered by each mother and baby.
“Research suggests that fatty acids, unique to human milk, play a role in optimal infant brain and visual development. In several large studies, children who had been breastfed had a small advantage over those who had been artificially fed when given a variety of cognitive and neurologic tests, including measures of IQ.”
Breastfeeding can help save lives. “Lack of breastfeeding is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Human milk seems to protect the premature infants from life-threatening gastrointestinal disease and other illnesses. Infants who are exclusively breastfed for at least four months are half as likely as artificially fed infants to have ear infections in the first year of life. Breastfeeding reduces the incidence and lessens the severity of bacterial infections such as meningitis, lower respiratory infections, bacteremia and urinary tract infections in infants.”
Breastfeeding is protective against infant botulism. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of “baby-bottle tooth decay” in infants. Evidence suggests that exclusive breastfeeding for at least two months protects susceptible children from Type I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of subsequent inflammatory bowel disease and childhood lymphoma.
“New research suggests that older children and adults who were breastfed as infants, are likely to have less adult illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension and auto-immune diseases,” he said.
Breastfeeding is important for the society too. It is economical as the cost of artificial baby milk has increased 150 percent since the 1980’s. Breastfeeding reduces healthcare costs for infants with less gastrointestinal, respiratory and other infant illnesses and less hospital admissions; and can in long run reduce healthcare expenditure via a healthier child, adolescent and adult population.
Breastfeeding is environmentally sound. Unlike artificial baby milk, breastfeeding requires no fossil fuels for its manufacture or preparation. Breastfeeding reduces pollutants created as byproducts during the manufacture of plastics and artificial baby milk. It represents the most efficient conversion of plant material into an ideal high-protein, high-energy food for infants.
“With the extensive research now available on the benefits of breast milk and the risks of artificial milks, physicians need to be able to support their breastfeeding patients. Unfortunately most physicians currently in practice have had little education in breastfeeding physiology and clinical management. Well researched basic principles and guidelines exist, in addition to well educated lactation professionals and mother-to mother resources, to help the physician help his or her patients,” he said.
Breast Cancer Awareness Provided by RocknBauble
