Studies

[slyder]

With twins on the way I've been giving a lot of thought to FF vs BF and the pros and cons of both.

In my reasonably rudimentary view of these matters, I find it curious that statements are frequently made to the effect of "we all know breastfeeding is best". It suggests that this is an irrefutable truth, such that the sun is hot and the ocean is made of water.

What I am genuinely interested to see (because I don't know where to look) is a listing of scientific studies using proper methodology which proves this point. I expect that such studies would need to compare a number of FF and BF babies from the same socio-economic background, over a period of say 5 years, for the purposes of evaluating present and post-BF/FF outcomes. The control would need to be a sample of both FF/BF infants whose health and immune characteristics can be quantified. How this is done I don't know but I'm not a scientist.

I am not interested in links to blanket statements made by the ABA, or a blog or whatever, or sources which mention studies and evidence as "proof" but don't actually cite the source. An example of a dinky di study (unrelated to BF) is here: MJA: Blyth, et al., Hospitalisation for congestive heart failure: burden and outcomes

If you haven't got a source in a format similar to the above (ie. a formal scientific study) I am not going to look at it - I'm not trying to be nasty, I'm just telling you what I am after and am wondering if anyone can help.

This isn't a wind up or an excuse to start a debate, I actually want to know for myself and for DW. I am asking because I am assuming that some of you who are very pro_BF will have knowledge of what I am after.

[Phteven]

This .pdf file might be a good starting point for you.
At the end of each section there is a list of references so you can research anything that you need to know more about in more depth.
It is a model chapter for medical texts developed by the W.H.O.

Infant and young child feeding: Model Chapter for textbooks for medical students and allied health professionals

Getting hold of peer reviewed studies online can be a bit tiresome. You might want to go to you closest tertiary institution and use their databases. They are a much better source than the interwebz.

[Indadhanu]

Is something like this what you are after?

Prospective studies of the effect of breast feedin... [Acta Paediatr Scand. 1979] - PubMed result

[slyder]

Thanks Onyx, lots of info there for me to hunt down soon.

Leasha, it's a bit brief to meet my exacting requirements, but it's a good start Thank you.

As BF sentiment is so strong on BB (not a criticism), there must be more of you that actually base your choices on empirical evidence that you've actually read yourself?

[Indadhanu]

I thought i would be, being that its an abstract haha. Should be able to have a decent look tomorrow arvo. I have uni access, so might be able to find the full article to the one I linked.

[slyder]

That's the problem with these studies - so many list the abstract but unless you have access to edu facilities or want to pay for it, it's pretty hard to get the full monty. Cheers.

[kelebek]

As BF sentiment is so strong on BB (not a criticism), there must be more of you that actually base your choices on empirical evidence that you've actually read yourself?

I know you don't want a debate and that is fine but as a breastfeeding mother I find this comment offensive. I may not have researched my decision to breastfeed over formulae feed because for me formulae feeding wasn't even something I wanted to consider. To me breastfeeding is free and natural and therefore my first option and I have been lucky that I am able to feed for as long as I have. I understand in the case of twins where the physical and mental toll is greater why you would want to look into the pro's and con's further but I am offended at your implication that I decided to breastfeed wasn't based on empirical evidence and therefore I am somehow uneducated or doing the wrong thing or uninformed?!

[Phteven]

To me breastfeeding is free and natural and therefore my first option and I have been lucky that I am able to feed for as long as I have.

Yep, the free was a big factor for me. That and the no washing up bottles. I breastfed because I'm a lazy cheapskate

[Jennifer13]

Slyder, can I congratulate you on your efforts to find out more about this. The ABA also has a Lactation Resource Centre that examines scientific studies from around the world on bfing. Every issue of their magazine covers one of these studies. You might argue the LRC is not 'independent' in that it's part of the ABA, but the studies they examine are in no way connected and I have seen them look at both the pros and cons from studies. You can access it from their website.

One other 'study' to put to you is that a mother is many, many more times more likely to be successful in bfing her baby/ies if her partner is supportive. So I think examining this for yourself will have a very big impact on your wife's ability to bf your children successfully.