No health benefits from breast-feeding

[Lamplighter]

Good arguments for paid 3-month maternity leaves and for "Take your baby to work" programs.

Years ago, the science was that the antibodies from the Mom passed to the Baby were only in the colostrum (first milk), so unless the science has changed, I don't see the argument for preventing infections, etc. out to 6 months.

I do think there are psychological benefits of keeping the Mom and Baby together, but sometimes the emotional arguments for breast-feeding sometimes seem to go overboard. e.g., preventing cancer

[monster]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Good arguments for paid 3-month maternity leaves and for "Take your baby to work" programs.

Years ago, the science was that the antibodies from the Mom passed to the Baby were only in the colostrum (first milk), so unless the science has changed, I don't see the argument for preventing infections, etc. out to 6 months.

I do think there are psychological benefits of keeping the Mom and Baby together, but sometimes the emotional arguments for breast-feeding sometimes seem to go overboard. e.g., preventing cancer

yup, your science is a little out of date.

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Good arguments for [b]paid[/B....sometimes the emotional arguments for breast-feeding sometimes seem to go overboard. e.g., preventing cancer

Oh Please. Emotional?? Thats underhanded.

READ THIS:

It is estimated that the cumulative
incidence of breast cancer in developed countries would be reduced by more than half, from 6.3 to 2.7 per 100 women by age 70, if women had the average number of births and lifetime duration of breastfeeding that had been prevalent in developing countries until recently. Breastfeeding could account for almost two-thirds of this estimated reduction in breast cancer incidence. The longer women breast feed the more they are protected against breast cancer. The lack of or short lifetime
duration of breastfeeding typical of women in developed countries makes a major contribution to the high incidence of breast cancer in these countries. Beral V et al. “Breast cancer and breastfeeding: collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 47 epidemiological studies in 30 countries, including 50 302 women with breast cancer and 96 973 women without the disease.” Lancet, Jul 20 2002; 360 (9328): 187-195

Women who breastfed a child for more than 24 months had a 54% reduced risk of developing breast cancer compared with women who breastfed for no more than 6 months. Women who breastfed for at least 73 months over the course of their lives had a much lower risk of breast cancer. The investigators found that the protective effect of breastfeeding applied to a woman's
risk of developing breast cancer both before and after menopause.

[monster]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

Oh Please. Emotional?? Thats underhanded.

No, just outdated. But he admitted that himself.