As lactation professionals staying up to date with current evidence, it has been known for a while that we see a connection between breastfeeding and a lower risk of infant death. A newer study published in August 2023 has affirmed breastfeeding linked to less infant death in the US.
As certified breastfeeding counselors, we know that breastfeeding rates are a public health issue. We know there are population level statistics as well as personal pros and cons. By staying up to date with current evidence, we can provide our clients with information on population level statistics to help them make informed decisions.
Breastfeeding is associated with a 33% reduction in infant deaths in the first year, according to the study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.
Breastfeeding Linked to Less Infant Death – What Did The Study Find?
Researchers looked at babies in 48 US states between 2016 and 2018. This study expands on previous studies which also found a link between breastfeeding and reduced infant death.
Dr. Julie Ware, of the Cincinnati Children’s Center for Breastfeeding Medicine, was the lead researcher in this recently published study which included approximately 10 million US infants.
This study found breastfeeding for any amount of time during the first two months reduces incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by up to 40%. When infants are breastfed until 4-6 months, there’s a 60% reduced incidence of SIDS.
Ware said, “Breast milk is jam-packed with so many immune protection molecules, bioactive components, that really prime the immune system of the baby. The immune protection, it’s like a powerhouse inside the breast milk.”
What Does This Information Mean For CBCs?
As a certified breastfeeding counselor, it is important that you stay up to date with the latest evidence. It is important we have science behind our work and what we say to help support and encourage our clients.
When we have prenatal clients asking about lactation, being able to provide information about the risks associated with not breastfeeding can help them make informed decisions about feeding. Certainly, no one can know how their breastfeeding journey will go after the baby is born. However, when clients are making an informed decision to breastfeed, they are more likely to seek evidence-based support if complications arise.
Often, short-term breastfeeding complications become long-term challenges. This is typically due to breastfeeding mismanagement and misinformation and not because a dyad is unable to breastfeed. When clients are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding, they are more likely to reach out to a CBC or other professional for support rather than simply cease breastfeeding before reaching their breastfeeding goals.
If you have a client considering breastfeeding cessation, it is not beneficial to tell them they are increasing their baby’s risk of death. Rarely, if ever, would that information and pressure be beneficial. This information is often beneficial when generally discussing why many parents choose to put the effort into breastfeeding even when it is difficult.
Population Level Statistics Versus Individual Experiences
It is important to note that while there is a 40-60% reduction in the rate of death linked to breastfeeding, the overall risk of infant death is quite low. This risk is not something most parents should be overly stressed about.
There will be parents who never breastfeed and who have very healthy children. There will also be breastfed babies who unfortunately pass away before their first birthday. Neither negate the statistics. Those are personal experiences which are a small piece of the very large population level puzzle.
That said, there is a statistically significant difference between the risk of death among breastfed babies and babies who are not breastfed. This information is most important when it comes to public health campaigns, prenatal education, hospital policy, and even federal employment policies.
We know that many parents desire and plan to breastfeed but for many reasons, they do not meet their personal breastfeeding goals. Most of these studies do not directly change parents’ minds simply because most parents already hope to breastfeed. What it does hopefully do, however, is encourage parents to seek evidence-based support. We also hope it aids in policy changes.
This study simply reminds us of the importance of our role in helping families meet their breastfeeding goals. We become a small part in the bigger picture of helping to reduce infant mortality.