Research shows that breastfeeding has many health benefits for infants and mothers, as well as potential economic and environmental benefits for communities.
Breastfeeding provides essential nutrition. Other known health benefits include some protection against common childhood infections and better survival during a baby's first year of life, including a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome . 1
Research also shows that very early skin-to-skin contact and sucking can have physical and emotional benefits. 2
Other studies suggest that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of certain allergic conditions, asthma, obesity and type 2 diabetes. It can also help improve a baby's cognitive development. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
What are the recommendations for breastfeeding?
In the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends the following: 1
- Infants should only receive breast milk for the first 6 months after birth. Exclusive breastfeeding means that the baby does not receive additional nutrition (except vitamin D) or fluids unless medically recommended.
- After the first 6 months and until the child is 1 year old, the AAP recommends that the mother continue breastfeeding and gradually include solid foods in the child's diet.
- Breast-feeding can be continued after 1 year if the mother and her child mutually wish to do so.
The World Health Organization is currently promoting as a global public health recommendation that: 2
- Babies are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months after birth to achieve optimal growth, development and health.
- To meet their evolving nutritional needs, infants should receive nutritionally appropriate and safe supplemental nutrition beyond the first 6 months while breastfeeding continues for up to 2 years of age or older.
Are there any special circumstances or situations where I should not breastfeed?
In special cases, women may be advised not to breastfeed. These cases include when a woman is on certain medications or medications, when she has been diagnosed with a specific illness, or when other specific conditions apply.
Certain medications are known to be dangerous to infants and can be passed to your baby through breast milk. Women taking the following medicines should talk to their healthcare provider before considering breastfeeding:
- Antiretroviral Medication (for HIV / AIDS) 1
- Anticonception medication containing estrogen until breastfeeding is well known 2
- Medicines for cancer chemotherapy 1
- Illegal drugs 1
- Certain medications prescribed to treat migraines, such as ergot alkaloids 3
- Mood stabilizers, such as lithium and lamotrigine 4
- Sleeping pills 5
In addition, women undergoing radiation therapy should not breastfeed, although some therapies require only a short break from breastfeeding. 1
The above list of medications and other medications is only a guideline. Before breastfeeding, talk to your health care provider about all medications you are taking. 5 These include prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal therapies.
Medications that are safe during pregnancy may also be safe for you to continue while breastfeeding, although you should check with your healthcare provider to make sure they are safe before breastfeeding. 5
Contact your baby's doctor if you see signs of a reaction to your breast milk in your baby, such as diarrhea, excessive crying or drowsiness. 5
Women with certain illnesses and infections may be advised not to breast-feed because of the risk of passing the illness or infection on to the breast-fed infant.
If you have any of the following conditions, breast-feeding your baby is NOT recommended. For more information, please contact your health care provider: 1
- Infection with HIV
- Infection with human T cell lymphotropic virus type I or type II
- Untreated, active tuberculosis
If you have flu, including the H1N1 flu (also called swine flu), don't stop giving your baby expressed milk. However, make sure you are away from your child so that you do not infect him or her. To avoid infecting your baby, someone who is not sick should give your baby your expressed milk. 6
For more information about the flu, including the H1N1 flu, visit the following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ .
If you have the Zika virus or live in areas where the Zika virus is found, the CDC recommends that you continue to breastfeed your baby. Although Zika virus has been detected in breast milk, there have been no reports of transmission of the virus through breast milk and the benefits of breast-feeding are believed to outweigh the risks. 7 NICHD is collaborating with other NIH institutes and the Brazilian research organization Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) to study the transmission of the Zika virus in 10,000 pregnant women and their babies. The mother's milk is if possible bi
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