Breastfeeding can reduce a mother's risk of several medical conditions, including ovarian and breast cancer, and possibly decrease the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis in the postmenopausal period.

The additional scientific evidence for these and other breastfeeding benefits has led the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a long-time advocate of breastfeeding, to issue a revised policy statement, "Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk," to replace the policy it adopted in 1997.

Benefits for Mother, Too

Research indicates that breastfeeding can reduce a mother's risk of several medical conditions, including ovarian and breast cancer, and possibly decrease the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis in the postmenopausal period, says AAP.

Increased breastfeeding also has the potential for decreasing annual health costs in the US by $3.6 billion, as well as decreasing parental employee absenteeism, the environmental burden for disposal of formula cans and bottles, and energy demands for production and transport of formula, the organization notes.

Although breastfeeding initiation rates have increased steadily since 1990, exclusive (no water, juice, nonhuman milk or food) breastfeeding rates have shown little or no increase over the same period of time, says AAP. Similarly, the proportion of infants who are exclusively breastfed until about six months of age has increased at a much slower rate than that of infants who receive mixed feedings (breast milk plus infant formula).

Exclusive Breastfeeding Advised

The new policy recommendations include the following:

• Exclusive breastfeeding for approximately the first six months and support for breastfeeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child;

• Mother and infant should sleep in proximity to each other to facilitate breastfeeding;

• Self-examination of mother's breasts for lumps is recommended throughout lactation, not just after weaning;

• Support efforts of parents and the courts to ensure continuation of breastfeeding in cases of separation, custody and visitation;

• Pediatricians should counsel adoptive mothers on the benefits of induced lactation through hormonal therapy or mechanical stimulation;

• Recognize and work with cultural diversity in breastfeeding practices;

• A pediatrician or other knowledgeable and experienced health care professional should evaluate a newborn breastfed infant at 3 to 5 days of age and again at 2 to 3 weeks of age to be sure the infant is feeding and growing well.