How do they know all of this info about breastfeeding?

[Washingtonmachine]

Specifically when your baby gets sick your breastmilk makes antibodies.

Also just the general information that we are told about the benefits of breastfeeding for both mum and baby.

Its nice to read, but how do I know its true.

As a researcher, I was surprised to learn how little quality evidence there is for all the claimed benefits. Granted it's a difficult thing to study robustly as there are so many confounding factors but given the whole breast is best mantra, I thought there would be something more substantial to support it. In saying that, I still breastfed because it worked for us. It can be a nice way of bonding when it works well. But I don't think women who can't or who choose not too are putting their babies at any disadvantage!

OP none of my family breastfed either and they just don't get it at all especially my Nan. I think she thinks I'm some kind of boob pervert. I get all sort of comments such as; "I best get a cuddle in before she wants to get her tits out". On the beach with my mum and my 9 month old wanted a feed.. she said "oh, you're not are you?!". Honestly, you can't tell stupid, I just try to ignore them but it doesn't mean it doesn't annoy and frustrate me.

That's not what OP asked

21 years ago my nan (who would be 102 now) was so supportive of me breastfeeding. Her favourite tip was to keep a square of chocolate under my pillow for when I got hungry during night feeds. I didn't do it, but bless you nan ❤️

Because scientists have studied it.

As far as I’m concerned breast is best and formula is a very very close second.

People like to portray it sometimes and demonise formula making out there’s a huge nutritional divide between the two. Like if an adult went to buy an organic banana (breastmilk) for a snack but there weren’t any so had a huge doughnut (formula) instead and in reality it’s not like that it’s more like going for an organic banana, there aren’t any so you grab 2 regular pear instead - still fruit, still healthy, still good nutrition and same calories! It’s like that with breastmilk and formula the difference isn’t that much

They analyse the components that are present in breast milk. They know this all very well as research is done both in human and animal breast milk for breeding purposes.

There is conclusive evidence that Brest milk is far superior to an ultra high processed food (UHPF) as babies first source of nutrition.

Of course formula is better than no food.

Why don’t you read this book?

it explains the difference between good science - proper methods and review- versus the “bad science” that underpins media stories. Author is a respectable medical researcher

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Science-Ben-Goldacre/dp/000728487X

I BFd my two, co-slept at times, held them all the time. Had the same well meaning comments from in-laws. Made the dreaded rod for my own back basically.

They’re 7 and 9 now and I can reassure you I’m no longer carrying them around. They’re perfectly lovely children finding their independence over time just like their peers. I can’t say that I look back and regret a single sleepless night, cuddle, carry, or feed. The days are long but the years are short.

You do what’s right for you and follow your instincts and enjoy your lovely baby. Don’t be worrying about justifying your choices to anyone else. Just smile and nod😊 xx

Or here’s his TED talk

Agree re Emily Oster. She explains the science and research really well.

It's been carefully studied.

From a personal perspective whilst feeding my eldest I became very, very ill from a stomach bug. I was terrified of passing it to my baby but my doctor told me to keep feeding as the antibodies I was producing would prevent my son from becoming ill.

Every single person in the household got it, apart from my son. Breast milk is 100% pure liquid gold.

Research on breastfeeding has been conducted in a similar way to all other scientific research that is out there on benefits of any number of things. However, it should be noted the benefits of breastfeeding are apparent at a population level, not individual level. So you will get countless who say 'I didn't breastfeed and my child has no allergies but my friend did and her child has lots'. That is not the point and not what the research suggests.

I also think it is highly inappropriate to categorise formula as Ultra-Processed Food. Whilst formula is highly processed, it is done for the right reason - to replicate breastmilk as closely as possible for those who are unable to breastfeed for any reason. Yes, the companies historically have very questionable ethics on marketing and branding but it has not been created to be highly palatable and addictive so people buy more and more. Where formula is used, it is done so for the right reasons

My ultimate advice is you do what works for you. Acknowledge that inappropriate comments from family members are from a place of ignorance not from being deliberately unkind and continue with what you want for your baby

Emily oster cherry picks her own science to back up her own parenting

expecting better was good

cribsheet was not

Well it's like anything - e.g. how to we know tobacco raises the risk of many cancers? Scientific studies are conducted.

@NavyPeer agreed. Emily Oster is a bit of an embarrassment to the academic community. Her summary of so-called research on 'sleep training' was a joke.

However in general OP there's a massive body of research on the value of breastfeeding. It also just makes sense doesn't it -- why would cow's milk be as healthy for human beings than human milk?

*healthy as

Sorry for all my typos!

Did they never give you the standard advice in school; "Answer the question and only the question. Don't just tell us your random thoughts on the subject."

Microscopes

As outlandish as the fact that women can grow and birth babies with our amazing bodies?!
I think it's sad that we have become so detached from nature that we don't recognise and celebrate our role in that. Our bodies are designed to feed our babies.
You are doing a fantastic job, never forget that.

You are doing a great job. Digs and comments mostly come from those who made a different decision themselves, ie to bottle feed, and who are not comfortable with their own decision. Why else would they care?

Here's another link OP. You can look at the 'Method' section as well as the results as you're interested in finding out about the research process.

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/ifps/index.htm

I remember watching the documentary Babies on Netflix and someone saying how much more research there is into cow’s milk than human milk. Because there’s obviously money to be made from the former and not the latter.

Human milk is the default food for human infants but it offers them a lot more than food.

🤍

This is a great website;

https://www.human-milk.com/science

There are many many studies that have been done. Looking at effects on a population level usually. So long term studies and also looking at milk in labs etc
Something simple to look at would be why they give donated milk to premature babies- because formula can cause NEC in them. Cows milk is made for calves not human babies. And although it’s a highly processed food it is massively different to formula. Breastmilk is made from your blood, you can’t recreate that.
There are also studies done which show the effects of not breastfeeding such as certain cancers in women etc