Physicians have known for more than a century that exclusive breast-feeding may be associated with vitamin D deficiency and rickets, and that the condition is easily prevented and treated with inexpensive vitamin drops or cod liver oil. But doctors are reluctant to say anything that might discourage breast-feeding.
Now some researchers are also linking vitamin D deficiency with other chronic diseases like diabetes, autoimmune disorders and even cancer, and there have been calls to include blood tests of vitamin D levels in routine checkups.
“I completely support breast-feeding, and I think breast milk is the perfect food, and the healthiest way to nourish an infant,” said Dr. Catherine M. Gordon, director of the bone health program at Children’s Hospital Boston and an author of several studies on vitamin D deficiency, including Aleanie’s case.
“However,” Dr. Gordon continued, “we’re finding so many mothers are vitamin D deficient themselves that the milk is therefore deficient, so many babies can’t keep their levels up. They may start their lives vitamin D deficient, and then all they’re getting is vitamin D deficient breast milk.”
Mais no NY Times :|
Dar de Mamar Dói:
Breast or bottle? That simple question is always certain to generate a lively debate among women about the pros and cons of breast-feeding.
That debate has continued on the Well blog this week , with hundreds of readers talking about a new report from Brigham Young University that shows while three out of four mothers start breast-feeding, only 36 percent of them continue for at least six months.
I spoke with study lead author Renata Forste, professor in department of sociology at Brigham Young University, about why so many women decide to stop nursing.
“A lot of women don’t understand the discomfort,” says Dr. Forste. “They aren’t necessarily prepared for that. There is sort of an expectation that it’s a very natural process — bring the baby to your breast and it’s very simple. But it’s not. I think it’s much more complicated than that. It requires a lot more support.”
Dr. Forste also notes that a generation of women was discouraged from breast-feeding in the 1960s and 1970s. Even though the pendulum has swung back, and women are encouraged to breast-feed, the support system necessary to make it happen hasn’t followed.
“We’re also a culture that is focused much more on bottle-feeding in terms of support networks,” says Dr. Forste. “A lot of women have to return to work. They don’t have the support in the work environment so they can continue to breast-feed. If you don’t have a support network around you, if you don’t have a partner who is supportive, it’s much more difficult to continue.”
NY Times, 237 comentários 237, no less :)
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