Extract from the ABA

Background

The promotion of breastfeeding is an important part of any strategy to improve the physical and mental well-being of infants and children. Breastfeeding has been shown to have a range of physical and mental benefits for mothers, babies and children and families. Wendy Oddy (2002) in her article entitled 'The impact of breastmilk on infant and child health' summarises the evidence for the long-term and short term health impacts of breastfeeding on the infant. The risks of not being breastfed are a greater incidence of childhood disease, these include acute diarrhoea, lower respiratory tract infections, ear infections, asthma, necrotising entercolitis, botulism, SIDS, diabetes, childhood lymphoma, coeliac disease. Lack of breastmilk negatively affects cognitive development and to have long term effects on diseases that occur later in life including cardiovascular disease , rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and some cancers.

Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding with reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding is a vital health issue not only benefiting mothers and babies but also the family and community at large. Government health bills are dramatically reduced when baby's are breastfed with fewer visits to doctors and hospitals, and improved health outcomes in later life. (Drane 1997)

In 2001 81.1% of babies left hospital breastfeeding, but by 6mnths this figure was only 46.2% This falls far short of the government's target that 80% of babies be exclusively or partially breastfed by 6mnths. At present there are great variations in breastfeeding rates between geographic areas and socio-economic classes (Donath and Amir, 2000)

The Consultation Paper "Towards the Development of a national Agenda for early childhood" notes that the health of Australian Children is deteriorating in some areas, notably asthma, obesity, type 2 diabetes and emotional health and well-being. Research into breastfeeding has been shown to be protective in these areas. (references Oddy 2002, von Kries R et al 1999, Gerstein 1994, Fergusson and Woodward 1999)

As the peak body on breastfeeding information and support in Australia, the Australian Breastfeeding welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Consultation Paper for the National Agenda for early Childhood

REFERENCES

• Fergussen DM, Woodward LJ 1999, Breast feeding and later psychosocial adjustment. Paediatr Perinatol Epidemiol 13: 144-157.
• Gerstein HC 1994, Cows'milk exposure and type 1 Diabetes melitus. Diabetes Care 17: 13-19.
• Kries R von, Koletzko B, Sauerwald T, Mutius E von, Barnert D, Grunert V, Voss H von 1999, Breastfeeding and obesity: cross sectional study. BMJ 319: 147-150.
• Labbock MH, Coffin CJ 1997 A call for consistency in definition of breastfeeding behaviours. Soc Sci Med 44(12);: 1931-1932
• Oddy WH 2002, The impact of breastmilk on infant and child health. Breastfeeding Rev.. 10(3): 5-18.
• Richards M, Hardy R, Wadsworth M 2002, Long term effects of breastfeeding in a national birth cohort: educational attainment and midlife cognitive function. Pub Health Nutr 5(5): 631-635.