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Why is Breastfeeding Beneficial?

"Breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. Given the documented short- and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding, infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice."

PEDIATRICS Vol. 129 No. 3 March 1, 2012

Smiling Baby

BENEFITS TO INFANTS:

  1. Improves infant immune system to help protect against diseases and infections

  2. Deceases risk of developing allergies

  3. Improves development of emotional attachment between parent and infant

  4. Helps protect against gastroenteritis, constipation, and other stomach illnesses

  5. Reduced risk of sleep apnea and SIDS

  6. Encourages proper growth and development of the jaws

 

BENEFITS TO MOTHERS:

  1. Reduces risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer

  2. Reduces risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis

  3. Promotes emotional health and can help decrease risk of postpartum depression

  4. Promotes postpartum weight loss

How Do Tongue and Lip Ties Affect Breastfeeding?

A proper latch requires proper mobility of the upper lip and the tongue. If a tongue and/or lip tie is present, the latch can be affected in a negative way. The following symptoms can be seen with tongue and lip ties in breastfeeding mothers and infants.

 

INFANT SYMPTOMS:

  1. Poor latch

  2. Falls asleep when attempting to latch

  3. Slides off nipple when attempting to latch

  4. Colic symptoms

  5. Reflux symptoms

  6. Poor weight gain

  7. Gumming or chewing of nipple when nursing

  8. Unable to hold a pacifier in his/her mouth

  9. Short sleep episodes requiring feeding every 1-2 hours

 

MOTHER SYMPTOMS:

  1. Creased, flattened or blanched nipples after nursing

  2. Cracked, bruised or blistered nipples

  3. Bleeding nipples

  4. Sever pain when infant attempts to latch

  5. Poor or incomplete breast drainage

  6. Infected nipples or breasts

  7. Plugged ducts

  8. Mastitis or nipple thrush

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Note: Breastfeeding babies should first be evaluated by a lactation consultant (IBCLC) to identify anything that may be causing breastfeeding issues that are not related to tongue or lip ties. 

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