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Obese women less likely to breastfeed their babies

29/01/2010 18:31:00 admin

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Obese mothers are less likely to breastfeed their infants, a new survey study in the Jan 2010 issue of the journal Obesity suggests.

The study analyzed data from 2,846 black women and 3,517 white women between 2000 and 2005 and found white women were more likely to breastfeed their babies than black women, 67.2 percent versus 41.2 percent.

White women were also found more likely to breastfeed for longer periods than black women, the study found.

The rate of breastfeeding was highest among those who had normal weight weight. Among white women, as body mass index increased, the odds of beginning breastfeeding decreased. But the association between the BMI and the odds of breastfeeding was not significant among black women.

The very obese white women had the shortest breastfeeding periods whereas the normal weight white mothers had the longest.

Breastfeeding is beneficial for both the infant and the mother even though pollutants were found in mothers' milk.

In the U.S., physicians suggest mothers should breast feed babies for at least one year or longer if either the mother or the baby so desires.

By Jimmy Downs

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Comments (4 posted):

Hannah on 29/01/2010 20:15:40

It is so healthy for the mothers and the babies to breastfeed - not only for what comes from the milk but the physical touch involved in breast feeding does so much for a child's neurological development which usually equals a mellow and balanced child/adult. A mother can also lose a substantial amount of weight by breastfeeding. The longer they can breastfeed the more weight they could lose! It is really too bad there isn't more education on this for moms-to-be.

The hospital I gave birth in never takes the child from the mother for a second, they put the child at your breast immediately after birth, sleeping with child is encouraged in hospital and absolutely no formula advertising is allowed into the hospital. That hospital is listed as one of the best in the world to give birth in because it is proven to work and to be healthier for both mother and child. Why aren't more hospitals following these protocols? When we know something works it should become standard practice everywhere.

parent of 2 on 29/01/2010 21:33:39

My experience at the hospital was similar to Hannah. The hospital encouraged breastfeeding, and encouraged parents to keep the child in the room, etcetera.

I had no desire to breastfeed though. I am white and average weight/BMI. I just don't think breastfeeding is appropriate for all parents. I think its because I am a father. My wife, on the other hand, did breastfeed our kids.

Jude on 29/01/2010 22:40:31

Given that Professor Sven Carlsen's review of more than 50 studies has refuted the correlation between baby health and breastfeeding, a focus on breastfeeding rates of obese mothers has no scientific relevance. It's simply fat-bashing.

Nat on 30/01/2010 07:35:34

I breastfed both of my children for eighteen months each..I enjoyed the bond we shared. They are both happy and well settled children now at 15 and 13 respective. We share a very strong bond. I found I did lose weight alot quicker ad it didnt have any adverse effect of the shape or size of my breasts. My lil sis has followed suit. And not ahving a natural birth it was alot harder for her but she persevered