Breastfeeding Infant Health Statistics

In my experience, nearly all parents and/or expectant parents are aware of the fact that pediatricians heavily favor breast milk as the best nutrition source for infants.
However, I'm not so sure we always do a great job explaining what evidence we have to support our strong preference or what factors lead to successful breastfeeding. 

Here is a slightly updated version of my 2013 blog post on the same topic.   

Current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation:
Exclusive breastfeeding for "about 6 months", then continued breastfeeding while complementary solid foods are introduced, and then continued breastfeeding until at least 1 year old, or as long as it is mutually desired by mother or infant.

So what is the evidence behind the current AAP recommendation?

ANY breastfeeding is associated with...
64% lower risk of gastroenteritis (viral vomiting/diarrhea infection)
40% lower risk of type 2 diabetes
40% lower risk of asthma, if any BF lasts > 3 mo AND there is a positive FH of asthma/eczema/allergies
36% lower risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), if any BF lasts > 1mo
31% lower risk of IBD (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease)
26% lower risk of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), if any BF lasts > 6mo
26% lower risk of asthma, if any BF lasts > 3 mo AND no FH of asthma/eczema/allergies
24% lower risk of obesity (teen and adult)
23% lower risk of otitis media (ear infection)
15% lower risk of AML leukemia, if BF lasts > 6mo

EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding is associated with...
63% lower risk of URI (common cold), if 100% BF lasts > 6mo
52% lower risk of celiac disease, if gluten-containing foods are introduced before infant formula or cow's milk are started.
50% lower risk of otitis media, if 100% BF lasts > 3 mo.
42% lower risk of eczema, if 100% BF lasts > 3mo AND positive FH of eczema
30% lower risk of type 1 diabetes, if 100% BF lasts > 3 mo
27% lower risk of eczema, if 100% BF lasts > 3mo and no FH of eczema

So how are we doing in the US as far as breastfeeding rates?
75% initiate any BF.
44% continue any BF at 6 mo.
22% continue any BF at 12 mo.
34% continue exclusive BF at 3 mo.
14% continue exclusive BF at 6 mo.

What can we do to get mothers off to a better start with breastfeeding?
1. Encourage and promote breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact within the first hour of life.
2. Avoid supplementing with any formula, water, or any other fluid besides human breast milk in the hospital.
3. Minimize separation of mother and newborn in the hospital (aka "rooming-in").
4. Avoid all pacifiers except when necessary to soothe during painful procedures such as male circumcision.
5. Provide written resources for post-hospital discharge breastfeeding support such as lactation consultant list with contact info before hospital discharge.

Take home messages:
1. Even just a partial diet of breastmilk through 1 mo lowers the SIDS risk by 36% and reduces the risk of gastroenteritis, type 2 diabetes, asthma, leukemia and obesity to varying degrees.
2. An infant diet of 100% breast milk until 3 mo lowers the risk of ear infections, eczema, type 1 diabetes.
3. The closer an infant can get to 6 months old without any other nutrition besides breast milk, the better.
4.  Infants who are introduced to gluten-containing foods before infant formula or cow's milk are introduced are substantially less likely to develop celiac disease.

Breastfeeding also has multiple known maternal health benefits such as decreased postpartum depression, decreased risk of maternal type 2 diabetes, and maternal cardiovascular disease.

Therefore, unless there is a medical contraindication to breastfeeding or the mother has a strong preference against breastfeeding, it makes sense to try breastfeeding and see how long it continues to make sense for both baby and mother.