Re: Breastfeeding study 'flawed'

[Guest guest]

Yeah they gave my baby Nestles every night in the nursery I found out AFTER I

had been asked 5 times whether I would be breastfeeding or not to which replied

every time , yes, I am breastfeeding. They obviously thought topping off with

milk formula wasn't going against my wishes.

Breastfeeding study 'flawed'

More like it!!

http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,22524624-5006544,00.html

Breastfeeding study 'flawed'

JANE BUNCE

October 03, 2007 03:36pm

A STUDY that found exclusive breastfeeding may increase a baby's risk of

developing allergies is scientifically flawed, breastfeeding advocates say.

The Australian study released this week found allergic mums who exclusively

breastfeed their babies may be inadvertently increasing their infant's risk

of developing asthma or eczema later in life.

The researchers found that while breastfeeding protects these infants in

early childhood, it actually increases the risk of them developing allergies

as adolescents and adults.

The study, published in the US-based Journal of Allergy and Clinical

Immunology, considered data from more than 8500 people involved in the

Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study.

The Melbourne and Hobart researchers said the findings should spark a

reconsideration of current recommendations that high-risk infants, those

whose mothers had an allergy, be breastfed for long-term allergy protection.

But in a statement titled " Breastfeeding and allergy study flawed " , the

Australian Breastfeeding Association disputed the study, saying most other

research had found breastfeeding protected against allergy.

The association questioned the researchers' assertion that " exclusive "

breastfeeding - when the baby is fed only breastmilk and no formula - was to

blame for the increased risk of allergies.

The people in the study were born in 1961, the association said, when giving

a newborn baby a nightly feed of artificial formula was routine - often

without the mother's permission or knowledge.

The formula could have caused the increased prevalence of allergies found in

the study, not the supposedly exclusive breastfeeding.

" One exposure to non-human milk can sensitise a baby's immature gut and make

them more prone to allergies, " the association said.

The association cited a West Australian study that found giving a baby under

four months old any artificial formula increased their risk of asthma by 20

per cent.

The formula also decreased their brain function and doubled their chance of

being admitted to hospital for chest infection.

The association said there was nothing in the study to justify calling for

any changes to breastfeeding recommendations.

" The causes of allergy and asthma are complex, " it said.

" Breastfeeding mothers should be reassured that one study is not a reason to

ignore a large body of evidence that shows breastfeeding is the best way to

feed an infant. "