Evidence-Based Clinical Question Search

Early and Delayed Breastfeeding:
Effects in Infants, Mothers, and Society
Name
Introduction
Breastfeeding is the act of feeding an infant with milk from a woman’s breast and that same milk coming out from the mother is known to be the most nutritious food a child can get for the first six months of his or her life. Unfortunately, not all children are blessed to breastfeed from their mothers.
The aim of this paper is for the author to apply and implement their PICOT idea based on sought-out evidence based research done in the systematic review. Evidence-based research findings derived from clinical inquiries will be integrated to support the author’s suggested necessary changes in nursing practice.
Overview of the Clinical Question
There are several benefits of breastfeeding to the newborns, mothers, and society. These are classified further into:
Impact on babies:
Breast milk had evolved into the provider of the most optimal nutrition, internal and external body protection, and regulator of an infant’s development, growth, and metabolism. Breast milk also acts as a core component in compensating for delays in developmental growth in immune functions seen in neonates and is responsible for the reduction of intestine permeability in preparation for extra-uterine life (Dieterich et. al., 2013).
* Due to the binding of secretory IgA (sIgA), an antibody predominantly found in breast milk, in the gastrointestinal tract which prevents the penetration of pathogens and restricts the phagocytosis and/or cytotoxicity activities of pathogens. This activity of the sIgA provides temporal and ubiquitous immunoprotection (Dieterich et. a., 2013).
* Other involved microbiomes found in the gut are a result of breastfeeding and these microbiomes protect the neonate from harmful bacteria specifically linked with reduction in asthma and obesity in children. To further elaborate, these microbiomes are due to the interaction of oligosaccharides and the breast milk’s microbiota (Dieterich et. a., 2013).
* Additional function of microbiomes’ function includes regulation of genes expression of deposition and metabolism of fat (Dieterich et. a., 2013).
* Because of the hormones, growth factors, and neuropeptides found in breast milk, an infant’s development, growth, and regulation in intake of food were said to be affected which is why in the study of Dieterich et. al., they discussed that there is discrepancy found between breastfed and formula-fed babies (Dieterich et. al., 2013).
* Based on Dieterich et. al.’s study, it was said that because of the PROBIT experimental design, strong evidences of infants who were breastfed for six months had higher IQ scores and is further supported by the study of Binns et. al., 2016.
* Breastfed who were not breastfed or had a delay in breastfeeding was said to be at higher risk of contracting SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This association cannot be stated to be statistically strong; however, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding is highly recommended to decrease the risk of SIDS (Dieterich et. al., 2013).
Impact on mothers:
* For mothers, they exhibit easier post-pregnancy weight loss in comparison with mothers who do not breastfeed.
* Lactation amenorrhea is also experienced by the mother wherein they temporarily experience contraceptive methods due to production of milk (lactating) and not having menstrual period (amenorrhea).
* Mothers who breastfeed tend to decrease their chances of contracting different forms of cancer such as breast, reproductive, and ovarian cancers. They also lower their risks in having type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Dieterich et. al., 2013).
* Mothers who breastfeed but had history of using drugs, smoke or had contracted diseases such as tuberculosis (active and untreated) are recommend to not breastfeed due to the grave effects it can have on infants such as brucellosis (Anatolitou, 2012).
Impact on society:
* In a research discussed in Dieterich et. al., they had stated that based on a survey from the National Immunization Survey back in 2005, it was concluded that should infants be breastfed exclusively for six months, an estimated of 911 would be prevented....