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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : September 26, 2018 10:14 PM IST
Breastfeeding makes babies less reactive to stress © Shutterstock
A new study found that breastfeeding might not be the sole reason for positive health outcomes in infants. According to the ANI report, the researchers from the University at Buffalo found that the benefits of breastfeeding could be influenced by the mother's characteristics, such as what they know about nutrition and health. The findings appeared in the journal Social Science & Medicine: Population Health.
Jessica Su, co-author of the study reportedly said that it is important to understand that they are not trying to imply that just intending to breastfeed is what's leading to these health outcomes. They found that intending mothers had more information about nutrition and diet; they more frequently consulted their physicians and had better access to information related to infant health than those moms who did not intend to breastfeed.
This access to health care is an important policy focus. An access to health care and the ability to take medical advice is critically important to a mother and her infant.
Reportedly, Su also explained that they don't have the social support to facilitate the recommendations being put forth. The U.S. is the only developed country with no federal paid parental leave, and only about 12 per cent of mothers in the private sector have access to paid leave. Paid maternity leave likely increases breastfeeding success, and also seems to have additional health benefits for mothers and infants.
However, for the concerns about disparities in infant health they need social policies that support these recommendations and also go beyond simply encouraging breastfeeding over formula.
Though breastfeeding may not produce the health benefits mothers hope for, yet the "breast is best" message is so strong that it can create undue stress and feelings of inadequacy for mothers who are unable to breastfeed.
