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Bottle feeding may increase stomach obstruction in infants

Bottle feeding may increase stomach obstruction in infants

Written by Editorial Team |Published : October 23, 2013 11:15 AM IST

bottle feedingInfants who are bottle-fed are more likely to develop hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS), a form of stomach obstruction, than those who are breastfed, according to US researchers.

The risk appears to be magnified when mothers are older and have more than one child, researchers from the Seattle Children's Hospital in Washington reported in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, Xinhua reported.

HPS typically occurs during the first two months of an infant's life. Surgery is needed to correct the obstruction, which occurs due to thickening of the smooth muscle layer of the pylorus, the passage between the stomach and small intestines.

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The researchers used birth certificates and date of discharge to examine births between 2003 and 2009 and found 714 infants were admitted with HPS and had surgery.

The findings indicated that the incidence of HPS decreased from 14 per 10,000 births in 2003 to 9 per 10,000 births in 2009, while breastfeeding prevalence increased from 80 percent in 2003 to 94 percent in 2009.

The researchers said that about 19.5 percent of infants who developed HPS were bottle fed, compared to 9 percent of babies who were breastfed. The number of infants developing HPS also increased when mothers were aged 35 years or more and had given birth more than once.

'These data suggest that bottle feeding may play a role in HPS etiology, and further investigations may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed effect modification by age and parity,' the researchers concluded.

What is breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding refers to the practice of feeding infants milk from the mammary glands. In fact it is recommended that one should start breastfeeding immediately after the infant's birth. Breast milk contains nutrients that are vital for the infant in the first few months. It contains high protein, Vitamin A and salts. Also since an infant's digestive system isn't developed enough to digest normal milk and it's inadvisable to substitute it for breast milk.

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Why is breastfeeding important?

Breastfeeding, is essential for both the mother and the child. It helps create a bond between the mother and the baby and gives your child the immunity and nutritional boost it requires right after birth. It is recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization), La Leche League and the Indian Academy of Paediatricians, that a baby should be breastfed for at least the first two years of their life.

Some of its benefits are:

Vital for cognitive and sensory development

Along with nutritional values, experts are of the opinion that breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development in children and builds an infant's immunity. It also prevents infections and makes an infant less prone to chronic diseases

Good for the mother too!

Breastfeeding also contributes to a mother's health research has found a definite link between breastfeeding and reduced ovarian and breast cancer risk.

Also read: World Breastfeeding Week 2012: The importance of breastfeeding

I am a working woman, and cannot feed my baby many times a day. Can I substitute formula milk for breast milk?

I would not suggest it. Formula milk can be compared to prescribed medicine that should be used only in the case of an emergency. If your baby is not able to breastfeed for some reason, only then should you use formula milk as an alternative. It should not be used as an easy substitute for breast milk.

Also read: A new mom's guide to breastfeeding

With inputs from IANS