Publications

Why Breastfeeding? The Canadian Lactation Consultant Association urges all players and partners in health promotion to immediately begin to address the need for development of a comprehensive national strategy that will promote, support and protect breastfeeding in a way that benefits all mothers and babies in Canada. Breastfeeding is good for mothers, for babies and for society.
Read More... Written by Dianne Nikiforuk, RN, BScN, IBCLC

Breastfeeding is the normal way to provide nutrition for a human baby. It is the standard against which all baby milks are measured. There are health related and cognitive risks to feeding your baby infant formula. Human milk provides food, protection and emotional nurturing for your baby. Its components ensure normal growth and development of your baby. Feeding infant formula provides none of these. One feeding of infant formula milk can endanger your baby. ₍₁₎ Regular feeding of formula produces sub-standard development. Mothers-- protect your baby and yourself! Exclusively breastfeed for six months, and keep breastmilk part of your child’s experience for up to two years and beyond. ₍₂₎
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Separation of the infant from its mother causes stress or “shut down behaviours”. Dr. Nils Bergman describes the “protest - despair” response as a significant factor leading to undesirable changes in the newborn’s heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, vagal tone and plasma cortisol, all signs and symptoms of stress.
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There is convincing evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for a minimum of six months, as well as continuing to breastfeed after the addition of solid foods, is protective against cancer for both the mother and her child.
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And mom benefits too! Breastfeeding mothers showed significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and more fat loss by one month postpartum when compared with formula! feeding moms. Lactation improves maternal glucose metabolism.
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For baby; Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is more likely in children who were fed infant formula or breastfed for shorter duration.
For mother; There is a higher risk of developing any type of diabetes when a mother does not breastfeed. Making milk for her baby primes a mother’s metabolism and has a healthy long-term effect on her insulin response.
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