The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dietetic Association support breastfeeding and recommend exclusive breastfeeding of infants until they reach 6 months of age and recommend that mothers continue to breastfeed at least until the child’s first birthday. The World Health Organization’s recommendation is similar; however, it recommends that mothers breastfeed, while providing appropriate supplementation of food, until the child is 2 or older. Breastfeeding beyond the first year of life is known as "extended breastfeeding" and is less common in the United States, despite the potential physical and emotional benefits.
Dose-Response Relationship
Although it is not uncommon to hear that some breastfeeding is better than none, Jacqueline Wolf, author of an article published in the “Journal of the American Public Health Association” asserts that the level of benefit received by the mother and child from breastfeeding is based on a dose-response relationship. In breastfeeding, there are certain factors that should be considered to determine what the “dose” is. These factors include how often the mother breastfeeds her child, how long each nursing session lasts and when the mother and child stop breastfeeding altogether.
Child Benefits
Extended breastfeeding reduces the incidence and limits the severity of many of the chronic diseases common today. Children who breastfeed beyond their first birthday are less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses such as childhood and adult obesity, type 2 diabetes, some forms of cancer and asthma. In addition to the protective health effects, extended breastfeeding has also been linked to higher adult intelligence. In an article published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” Dr. E.L. Mortensen and his colleagues found that young adults who were breastfed for a longer duration scored higher on intelligence tests. Extended breastfeeding also supports the emotional health of the child.
Benefits to Mother
Women who practice extended breastfeeding have a lower incidence of certain forms of cancer, including uterine, ovarian and breast cancers. Women who breastfeed longer have a significantly lower risk of developing breast cancer. Extended breastfeeding is also associated with a reduced risk of the mother developing type 2 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis later in life, according to Cindy Harmon-Jones, author of an article published in “Breastfeeding Abstracts" and on La Leche League's website.
Considerations
Although many professional organizations recognize the benefit of breastfeeding beyond a year, medical professionals in the United States often look down on the practice. However, when educated about the benefits of extended breastfeeding to the mother and child, many health-care providers change their view, according to Lauren Cockerman-Colas, lead author of an article titled, “Exploring and Influencing the Knowledge and Attitudes of Health Professionals Towards Extended Breastfeeding” published in “Breastfeeding Medicine.”
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk; February 2005
- World Health Organization: Breastfeeding
- "American Journal of Public Health"; Low Breastfeeding Rates and Public Health in the United States”; Jacqueline H. Wolf, PhD; December 2003
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; The Association Between Duration of Breastfeeding and Adult Intelligence; Erik Lykke Mortensen, PhD, et al.; 2002
- Le Leche League International: Duration, Intensity, and Exclusivity of Breastfeeding; Cindy Harmon-Jones; May 2006
- "Journal of the American Dietetic Association"; Position of the American Dietetic Association: Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding"; November 2009
