scholarly journals Health effects of breast feeding for mothers: a critical review

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jane Heinig ◽  
Kathryn G. Dewey
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Health ◽  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Bone Mineralization ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Long Term Effects

AbstractLactation results in a number of physiological adaptations which exert direct effects on maternal health, some of which may confer both short and long term advantages for breast feeding mothers. Breast feeding in the early postpartum period promotes a more rapid return of the uterus to its prepregnant state through the actions of oxytocin. Breast feeding may also lead to a more rapid return to prepregnancy weight. Among studies that had good data on duration and intensity of lactation, the majority show a significant association between lactation and weight loss. However, there is no evidence that lactation prevents obesity. Lactation also affects glucose and lipid metabolism. The long term effects of these adaptations are unknown but may have implications for preventing subsequent development of diabetes and heart disease. Lactation delays the return of ovulation and significantly reduces fertility during the period of lactational amenorrhoea. This process is linked with feeding patterns and may therefore be affected by practices such as scheduled feedings and the timing of introduction of complementary foods. While the evidence from epidemiologic studies is mixed, several large studies have shown that extended lactation is associated with reduced risk of premenopausal breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers. Although bone mineralization declines during lactation, repletion takes place after weaning. As a result, breast feeding does not appear to cause long term depletion of bone nor does it increase risk of osteoporosis. Many of the physiological effects of lactation are dependent on the stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and milk removal and thus may vary with infant feeding practices. Well controlled studies are needed that include detailed information regarding infant feeding practices in addition to the total duration of any breast feeding. Future feeding recommendations should reflect careful consideration of how such practices affect both infant and maternal health.

scholarly journals Maternal perspectives on infant feeding practices in Soweto, South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Stephanie V Wrottesley ◽  
Alessandra Prioreschi ◽  
Wiedaad Slemming ◽  
Emmanuel Cohen ◽  
Cindy-Lee Dennis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
African Women ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽  
South African Women

Abstract Objective: To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto and (ii) understand from the mothers’ perspective what influences feeding practices. Design: Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Setting: Soweto, South Africa. Participants: Nineteen mothers were stratified into three FGD according to their baby’s age as follows: 0–6-month-olds, 7–14-month-olds and 15–24-month-olds. Four mothers from each FGD then attended an IDI. Results: Although mothers understood that breast-feeding was beneficial, they reported short durations of exclusive breast-feeding. The diversity and quality of weaning foods were low, and ‘junk’ food items were commonly given. Infants were fed using bottles or spoons and feeding commonly occurred separately to family meal times. Feeding practices were influenced by mothers’ beliefs that what babies eat is important for their health and that an unwillingness to eat is a sign of ill health. As such, mothers often force-fed their babies. In addition, mothers believed that feeding solid food to babies before 6 months of age was necessary. Family matriarchs were highly influential to mothers’ feeding practices; however, their advice often contradicted that of health professionals. Conclusions: In South Africa, interventions aimed at establishing healthier appetites and eating behaviours in early life should focus on: (i) fostering maternal self-efficacy around exclusive breast-feeding; (ii) challenging mixed feeding practices and encouraging more responsive feeding approaches and (iii) engaging family members to promote supportive household and community structures around infant feeding.

scholarly journals Infant Feeding and Long-Term Outcomes: Results From the Year 6 Follow-Up of Children in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S1-S3 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Grummer-Strawn ◽  
R. Li ◽  
C. G. Perrine ◽  
K. S. Scanlon ◽  
S. B. Fein
Keyword(s):  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Long Term Outcomes

scholarly journals The infant feeding practices of mothers in the Maldives

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 502-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Abdulraheem ◽  
CW Binns
Keyword(s):  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breast Fed

AbstractObjectiveTo document the infant feeding practices of Maldivian mothers.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 251 Maldivian mothers recruited in 2004 from the ‘well baby’ or ‘well child’ clinics on the island of Male' and including 75 mothers from three other islands, Hura, Himmafushi and Thulusdhoo.ResultsThe full breast-feeding rate at hospital discharge was 93% but declined to 41% at 4 months. Any breast-feeding rates were high among Maldivian mothers: 100% at 1 month and 85% were still breast-feeding at 6 months. The median duration of breast-feeding was 24 months.ConclusionBreast-feeding rates are high and the average duration of breast-feeding is more than 2 years in the Maldives. Health promotion activities should be directed towards maintaining the already high ‘any breast-feeding’ rates and increasing the proportion of infants exclusively breast-fed to 6 months.

scholarly journals Infant Feeding Practice of Mother attending Pediatric out Patients Department in A Tertiary Care Center

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamanna Begum ◽  
SK Azimul Hoque ◽  
Md Rafiqul Islam ◽  
Soofia Katoon ◽  
Azanta Rani Shah
Keyword(s):  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Complementary Feeding ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Feeding Practice ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Appropriate breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices are the fundamental to children’s nutrition, health and survival during the first year of life. WHO and UNICEF have articulated a global strategy for poor infant feeding practices directly and indirectly contributes to under nutrition, morbidity and mortality in infant. Objective: This study was designed to determine the breast feeding (BF) and complementary feeding (CF) practices in study population. Methodology: This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in Pediatrics out patients department (OPD) of Shahid Surhawardy Medical College and Hospital, from January 2009 to December 2009. Feeding history of total 250 babies age >6 months to <1 year was taken from mothers. Results: Among 250 total babies, prelacteal feed was given in 29.2%(73/250), colostrum was given in 79.2%(198/250) and exclusive breast feeding upto six months was given in 24%(60/250) babies. CF was started in 242 babies and it was too early before six months in 29.6%(74/250) cases. Amount of CF was adequate in 66.9%(162/ 242) and composition of CF was good enough in 58.3%(141/242) babies. Conclusion: In this study CF was introduced before 6 months in one third babies and amount was inadequate in same numbers of children. There is need for promotion and protection of optimal infant feeding practices for improving nutritional status of our children. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v37i3.18616 Bangladesh J Child Health 2013; Vol.37(3): 138-141

scholarly journals Infant feeding practices in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenglian Xu ◽  
Colin Binns ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Re Yihan ◽  
Yun Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Autonomous Region ◽  
Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Feeding Methods

AbstractAimsTo document infant feeding methods in the first six months of life in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, 2003–2004. Some problems with breast-feeding in the area are explained.MethodsA longitudinal study of infant feeding practices was undertaken. A total of 1219 mothers who delivered babies during 2003 and 2004 were interviewed in five hospitals or institutes, and after discharge were contacted in person or by telephone at approximately monthly intervals to obtain details of infant feeding practices. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with breast-feeding initiation.Results‘Any breast-feeding’ rates at discharge and at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 6 months were 92.2, 91.3, 89.9, 88.8, 87.7, 86.0 and 73.0%, respectively. ‘Exclusive breast-feeding’ rates at discharge and at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 6 months were 66.2, 47.6, 30.1, 25.8, 22.1, 13.0 and 6.2%, respectively. The main problem of breast-feeding in Xinjiang was the early introduction of formula or water. The average duration of ‘exclusive breast-feeding’ was 1.8 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–2.0), of ‘full breast-feeding’ 2.8 months (95% CI 2.7–2.9) and of ‘any breast-feeding’ 5.3 months (95% CI 5.2–5.4).ConclusionsInfant feeding methods in Xinjiang were documented in this study and the main problems with infant feeding in Xinjiang are discussed. Further studies are needed to identify factors associated with ‘exclusive breast-feeding’ and duration.

A BIOCULTURAL INVESTIGATION OF THE WEANLING’S DILEMMA IN KATHMANDU, NEPAL: DO UNIVERSAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEANING PRACTICES MAKE SENSE?

2001 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
TINA MOFFAT
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Feeding Method ◽  
Exclusive Breast Feeding

The primary objective of this report is to use data from a study of infant growth and weaning practices in Kathmandu, Nepal, to investigate universal recommendations about exclusive breast-feeding up to 6 months postpartum. A secondary objective is to demonstrate the complexity of the biocultural nature of infant feeding practices. A sample of 283 children under 5 years of age and their 228 mothers living in a peri-urban district of Kathmandu participated in this study. The children’s height/length and weight were measured three times over 9 months. At each session, a demographic, child health and infant feeding survey was administered; between sessions, in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers regarding infant feeding practices. While a few of the infants under 2 months were receiving non-breast milk foods, at 3 months of age half of the sample had been introduced to non-breast milk foods and by 7 months all infants were eating non-breast milk foods. A comparison of growth indices and velocities between exclusively and partially breast-fed infants from birth to 7 months of age shows no evidence for a difference in nutritional status between the two groups. Although there are cultural rules about breast-feeding that vary by ethnic group, all mothers followed a feeding method that depended on their assessment of whether the child was getting enough breast milk. The conclusion is that exclusive breast-feeding up to 6 months may not be appropriate for all infants. In this sample, breast-feeding duration is not shortened by the early introduction of non-breast milk foods, as the median age of breast-feeding cessation is 36 months. One of the main reasons for severance was the onset of another pregnancy. Investigation of infant feeding practices must be contextualized in the local ecology of the population. While cultural beliefs about breast-feeding are relevant, mothers’ individual assessments of their children’s nutritional needs and demographic events in parents’ lives must also be considered.

scholarly journals Infant feeding practices of a tribal community in a mandal of Khammam district, Telangana

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 5077
Author(s):  
Rajeshwar Rao Alwala ◽  
Shankar Reddy Dudala ◽  
Chandrasekhar Reddy Bolla ◽  
Manoj B. Patki ◽  
B. P. Ravi Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Infant Feeding Practices ◽  
Tribal Community ◽  
False Beliefs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Heath Education

Background: Breast milk is the best, safest and most nutritious food for infants. Though breast feeding is almost universal, there are yet some myths and false beliefs surrounding the practice due to various cultures and traditions in India. In the present study an attempt was made to understand various aspects of infant feeding practices among the Sugali tribes of Khammam district, Telangana state.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among Sugali community in Khammam mandal of Khammam district in Telangana from March to June 2010. In which 314 families with pre-school children were interviewed using a pre–designed semi-structured questionnaire.Results: Nearly 80% (251) of the mothers had said that they initiate breast feeding after one hour of delivery, while only 6% initiated breastfeeding within one hour delivery. About 54% of the mothers were giving colostrum to their newborns, while others (45.86%) were giving pre-lacteal feeding to the infants including jaggery water and honey. It was observed that most (71.65%) of the mothers were continuing to breastfeed their children more than 18 months. Only 11.78% of the mothers started weaning before 6 months of age. Socio-economic status, literacy rate and working status of the mothers were some of the influencing factors.Conclusions: The study identified the practices of infant feeding, their determinants among the sugali tribes and recommendations to improve their practices. False beliefs and difficulties regarding breast feeding need to be addressed through heath education and family support.

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