Breastfeeding. Good for the health of both baby and mother.

By Anne Prigent – ​​Le Figaro Santé

To promote breastfeeding, millionaire Michael Bloomberg, three-time mayor of New York City, decided to take drastic measures. In maternity wards associated with his social project, bottles of infant formula are now only provided to mothers with a doctor's prescription. And, in these maternity wards, samples of powdered milk are now kept locked away, as are all toxic medications…

Will it be necessary to take such extreme measures to encourage more women to breastfeed their children? Certainly not. But this forceful policy also brings to mind a reality that the modern world tends to overlook: breastfeeding is beneficial for the health of both the child and the mother.

Six months recommended in the poorest countries.

In France and almost all the rest of Europe, around 65% of mothers continue breastfeeding after being discharged from the maternity ward. But seven out of ten stop as soon as they return to work. That is, two and a half months after the birth of the child. Much earlier, therefore, than the six months recommended by the World Health Organization. As the name itself suggests, "the WHO is an organization that takes global health into consideration. Its recommendations are mainly aimed at less developed countries," warns Professor Jean Pierre Chouraqui, a pediatrician at the University Hospital of Grenoble.

In poorer countries, breastfeeding significantly reduces infant mortality from infections. In France, the health status of newborns does not require the same precautions, but the recognized benefits of breast milk for the child's future health are numerous, and the longer the breastfeeding period, the greater the benefits. This is why pediatricians insist on the need to continue breastfeeding for at least three months.

Beneficial for the child and for the mother.

In a report published in 2009, the French Academy of Medicine noted that breastfeeding prevents, in the short and long term, diarrhea, acute ear infections, and even severe respiratory infections. The Academy also emphasizes that breastfeeding is beneficial for the sensory and intellectual development of infants, reduces the risk of eczema in the short and long term, and prevents later risks of obesity, certain types of diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in adults.

Breastfeeding also brings benefits to the mother, emphasizes the Academy of Medicine: weight loss and a decrease in body fat are faster in the first six months after childbirth. In the long term, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Another advantage: breastfeeding your child costs nothing. "Which, in a time of economic crisis, is not negligible," says Jean Pierre Chouraqui. The additional costs associated with formula feeding are estimated at 500 euros for an infant in the first six months.

We must respect their choices.

For healthcare professionals, the benefits of breast milk are no longer debated. But it's also not a matter of blaming women who make a different choice or stop abruptly. "It's up to women to decide whether they breastfeed or not. We must respect their choices," insists Dominique Turck. Especially when breastfeeding is not truly desired by the mother, things can go wrong.

For Jean-Pierre Chouraqui, it is a conscious personal choice, made "after receiving information from healthcare professionals about the beneficial effects of breastfeeding." "It's important to address the issue of choice in the first months of pregnancy," adds Marianne Truong, vice-president of the Order of Midwives. Parents should have the time to ask the questions that trouble them, and to discuss them in order to make a more informed decision.

Extend maternity leave?

Next, it's necessary to support the mother, especially when it's her first baby. "Women who are breastfeeding need help because it's not so simple," says Marianne Truong. "The most critical period is when the milk comes in, around the third day, a time when the mother feels the exhaustion from childbirth." If no one helps her during this critical time, she might give up.

Next comes the time when people return to work, which often results in the interruption of breastfeeding. However, according to a survey conducted by BVA in 2009, 58% of working women who have had children say they would have breastfed for longer if their maternity leave had been longer.