SIDS and Breastfeeding

[Mischief]

Breast is best

Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your baby. Even if you only breastfeed for a few days, your baby will benefit from the colostrum you produce before your milk comes in, which is packed with antibodies to strengthen his immune system. There is lots of support available for mums and babies learning to breastfeed (and it is something that needs to be learned) so ask your midwife, baby health nurse or GP about services in your area.

Not only does breastfeeding give short-term benefits, such as protection against tummy upsets, in the long term it will:

* Protect him against allergies and infections - and studies have also indicated that breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma in childhood.

* Reduce his risk of becoming overweight in childhood and when he grows up - breastfeeding has been related to lower cholesterol levels and lower rates of obesity in adulthood.

* Help reduce the risk of cot death if you breastfeed for at least four months

Okay see the last point..... Helps reduce the risk of cot death.... why is that? Is it something to do with the actual sucking the baby does on the breast or something to do with the breast milk itself?

Just really curious and wondering what the link is...

Cheers,
Kat

[veve]

I wonder if it cause people leave babies in cots with bottles??? but I'm sure there are other reasons too ..

xx

[Goosie22]

Hi,

Its because of the increase in Respiratory disease when giving Formula and the reduction of the protection given by Breastfeeding when formula is introduced. One of the common factors with sids babies is that they are formula feed also (a statistic thing).

[Notchalk]

Also formula fed babies generally sleep deeper while they are trying to digest this imperfect food. Breast milk is easier to digest, so breastfed babies sleep a little lighter and wake a little more often like they should.

There could be a correlation between co-sleeping or at least room sharing in breastfed babies, and lone sleeping in formula fed infants.

Jo

[veve]

does SIDS recommend co-sleeping?? I thought there was a higher risk of sids with co-sleeping??

(I could easily be wrong.. just going my memory)

xx

[Notchalk]

No they don't recommend it as a blanket rule, because it is harder to ensure parents know what a safe sleeping environment is, than to just say 'don't do it'. But infact the countries with the lowest SIDS rates are those who co-sleep as the norm.

Jo

[Sara's Boys]

might be the sucking, I know that they have found pacifyers reduce chances of sids