"the risks of formula feeding are not statistically worse than the risks of breastfeeding"?

[natural_mama89]

I heard a mom claim this. Are there really any studies that show this? I'm really confused. It kind of reminds me the "my ff baby is healthier than all the bf babies I know" thing. Thoughts?

[urchin_grey]

Risks of breastfeeding??? I've never heard of such a thing.

[alegna]

total bs.

-Angela

[ramama]

I recently read a study that indicated that FF infants are 5 times more likely to die from SIDS than BF infants. If that's not statistically significant, I don't know what is.

[Kappa]

There aren't any "risks" to breastfeeding, only benefits. Once, I read somewhere that there is a "risk" of Vitamin D deficiency, but beyond that I've never heard of a risk associated with breastfeeding.

[menomena]

DD1's allergist tried to tell me that some studies "may indicate" a "possible" increased risk for allergies for nursing past 1yr. HOWEVER, (as I was opening my mouth to contradict him) he did clarify that there is 100% evidence that nursing until AT LEAST 6m significantly reduces your risks for allergies. (Conversely: formula feeding prior to 6m at the earliest increases your risks for allergies.)

[Kappa]

Originally Posted by menomena

DD1's allergist tried to tell me that some studies "may indicate" a "possible" increased risk for allergies for nursing past 1yr. HOWEVER, (as I was opening my mouth to contradict him) he did clarify that there is 100% evidence that nursing until AT LEAST 6m significantly reduces your risks for allergies. (Conversely: formula feeding prior to 6m at the earliest increases your risks for allergies.)

Well, I could see that if your baby has serious allergies, a Mom would be less likely to wean early because of the obvious affects of other foods. You would have to look at whether the allergy came first, then "causing" a more extended nursing relationship. Correlation doesn't imply causation in any case.

[GardenStream]

Originally Posted by Kappa

There aren't any "risks" to breastfeeding, only benefits. Once, I read somewhere that there is a "risk" of Vitamin D deficiency, but beyond that I've never heard of a risk associated with breastfeeding.

That's the only one I have ever heard of.

[CEVmommy]

I guess there are risks to BF if the mom has HIV or something... but it seems like this person is just trying to claim that there is no statistical difference in general, which is ridiculous. I have, however, heard ppl argue that given clean water, formula feeding is just as good, and the reason for problems with formula come from the poor water, not the formula itself. Maybe that's her angle? I've seen studies contradicting this, saying that even when controlling for socio-economic factors in developed countries, FF still carries greater risk.

[tinyblackdot]

Originally Posted by ramama

I recently read a study that indicated that FF infants are 5 times more likely to die from SIDS than BF infants. If that's not statistically significant, I don't know what is.

Well you can twist statistic any way you choose, i doubt that has to do with ff, but instead the types of mothers that chose to ff and their parenting skills.

I do know that there are some rumors about risks involved in BFing, weather they are true or not i for one have no idea. I have heard about the risk of mercury poisoning, the Vit D thing and recently i hard a woman saying that her Dr had linked autism to BFing......

[menomena]

Originally Posted by Kappa

Well, I could see that if your baby has serious allergies, a Mom would be less likely to wean early because of the obvious affects of other foods. You would have to look at whether the allergy came first, then "causing" a more extended nursing relationship. Correlation doesn't imply causation in any case.

well, that's pretty much what I was going to say to him. Especially the bolded part, since he's reallllllly into "research says 'x'," "or this study says 'y'". also if the "studies" were looking for something else and happened to find a correlation, then that lends even less credence.

[purplepaperclip]

Originally Posted by tinyblackdot

Well you can twist statistic any way you choose, i doubt that has to do with ff, but instead the types of mothers that chose to ff and their parenting skills.

I do know that there are some rumors about risks involved in BFing, weather they are true or not i for one have no idea. I have heard about the risk of mercury poisoning, the Vit D thing and recently i hard a woman saying that her Dr had linked autism to BFing......

Ethical studies that have been peer reviewed are unlikely to be skewed to prove a "desired" outcome. In situations where statistics have been twisted, it is generally quite obvious to statistician reviewers and therefor *generally* hold no merit in the scientific community.

[annettemarie]

OK mamas, you're back!

[Ruthla]

Risks of breastfeeding?

Most of the time, breastmilk is what the baby should be drinking, while formula feeding holds risks- due to what it lacks (immunities, unrecognized nutrients) and the potential allergens it contains. However, there are a few specific, rare cases where breastfeeding may not be 100% safe for the baby:

Rare metabolic disorders where the baby can't digest breastmilk.

Mom is HIV+ or has some other highly communicable disease that may be transmitted via breastmilk.

Risk of dehydration or malnutrition if mom has undersupply or baby has poor milk transfer that goes undiagnosed.

Mom is on a medication that may not be compatible with breastfeeding (in most cases, the risks of FF are still higher than the risks of BF while mom takes meds, but some meds truly are unsafe for infants, and, even more commonly, moms and/or medical professionals downplay the risks of FF and exaggerate the risks of mom's meds.)

[tinyblackdot]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Risks of breastfeeding?

Most of the time, breastmilk is what the baby should be drinking, while formula feeding holds risks- due to what it lacks (immunities, unrecognized nutrients) and the potential allergens it contains. However, there are a few specific, rare cases where breastfeeding may not be 100% safe for the baby:

Rare metabolic disorders where the baby can't digest breastmilk.

Mom is HIV+ or has some other highly communicable disease that may be transmitted via breastmilk.

Risk of dehydration or malnutrition if mom has undersupply or baby has poor milk transfer that goes undiagnosed.

Mom is on a medication that may not be compatible with breastfeeding (in most cases, the risks of FF are still higher than the risks of BF while mom takes meds, but some meds truly are unsafe for infants, and, even more commonly, moms and/or medical professionals downplay the risks of FF and exaggerate the risks of mom's meds.)

One more that can be added to the lise

Mothers that have drug/alcohol addictions

I have had a few people i know (i work in a bar) that chose to BF and would go out and use hard drugs and drink constantly, and i really wished that those babies had been formula fed. However recently someone told me that there is new studies showing that that isnt as bad as people once thought, does anyone have any information or links about this?

[Sioko]

I used to believe that a mom could drink occasionally and BF safely but recently I read that alcohol is concentrated in BM! I want to warn a friend I know who drinks occasionally, but I have a feeling she won't change her habits I haven't read anywhere about illicit drugs and BF, but I'd bet a mint they cross into the milk too!

[junipermuse]

Originally Posted by Sioko

I used to believe that a mom could drink occasionally and BF safely but recently I read that alcohol is concentrated in BM! I want to warn a friend I know who drinks occasionally, but I have a feeling she won't change her habits I haven't read anywhere about illicit drugs and BF, but I'd bet a mint they cross into the milk too!

Everything I have read contradicts this. I've read that the amount of alcohol in your breastmilk, is the same as in your blood, so at .08% blood alcohol level there's only .08% alcohol in your milk. For most babies I think this is probably safe. I have had the occasional drink while nursing my baby (now 22 months), but I try never to have more than 2 in an evening. I have never noticed any effect on her at all. I don't think I had anything to drink at all until she was a couple months old though.

I'd be interested to read something that says otherwise though

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Sioko

I used to believe that a mom could drink occasionally and BF safely but recently I read that alcohol is concentrated in BM!

Where did you read this? I have never read anything that says that alcohol in breastmilk is any more concentrated than blood alcohol. It passes out of breastmilk as mom's blood alcohol levels drop. Dr. Hale says it's safe to have 1-2 regular drinks and breastfeed.

http://66.230.33.248/discus/messages...tml?1075923568

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Sioko

I used to believe that a mom could drink occasionally and BF safely but recently I read that alcohol is concentrated in BM!

Absolutely not true.

Alcohol in milk is the same level as blood alcohol.

Therefore, if you're *drunk* it might be .1%

Beer (as an example) is usually around 5% alcohol.

HUGE exponential difference there....

-Angela

[odenata]

I just googled to see if anything came up, and found this quote from the AAP, from 2005:

“Breastfeeding mothers should avoid the use of alcoholic beverages, because alcohol is concentrated in breast milk and its use can inhibit milk production. An occasional celebratory single, small alcoholic drink is acceptable, but breastfeeding should be avoided for 2 hours after the drink.”

It was on the milkscreens website (site that sells tests to detect alcohol in breastmilk), so hardly an objective source.

I can't find anything else backing it up, and even found contradictory statements from the AAP.

From Kellymom:

In general, if you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to breastfeed. Less than 2% of the alcohol consumed by the mother reaches her blood and milk. Alcohol peaks in mom's blood and milk approximately 1/2-1 hour after drinking (but there is considerable variation from person to person, depending upon how much food was eaten in the same time period, mom's body weight and percentage of body fat, etc.). Alcohol does not accumulate in breastmilk, but leaves the milk as it leaves the blood; so when your blood alcohol levels are back down, so are your milk alcohol levels.