Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Baby Development – Study shows no Truth to Myth of Breastfeeding’s effects on Breast Shape

26.10.2008 | 3:56:39 pm | Posted by admin

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

Mothers everywhere can relate that having a baby changes your life forever and your heart will never be same- unfortunately neither will your body. While stretch marks can be looked at the marks of the motherly warrior, many women opt out of one bodily change risk they think they can control and that is breastfeeding. A myth as old as the ages says that breastfeeding a baby leads to breasts that, for lack a better word, droop.

baby development, parenting Although it may seem a silly notion, that very myth has caused millions of women everywhere to pass on breastfeeding despite the numerous known health benefits. A new study finally debunks that myth finding that there is no truth to that statement.

Published in the September/October edition of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the study found that contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that breastfeeding causes the sagging breast phenomenon that is more formally called breast ptosis. In fact, researchers found that post-pregnancy misshaped breasts are a result a several other confounding factors such as high body mass index (BMI), older age, and history of smoking.

The researchers, knowing the health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby, set out find quantifiable reasons for breast ptosis. Based on analysis of 93 patients who sought aesthetic breast surgery between 1998 and 2006 and had at least one baby, the study analyzed pre-surgical breast ptosis with other known risk factors.

Fifty eight percent of the women in the study reported breastfeeding one or more children. The results surprisingly revealed that the higher the BMI, pre-pregnancy bra cup size, a history of smoking, and the greater number of pregnancies were all notable risk factors for sagging breasts. Breastfeeding, however, was not a risk at even for mothers who breastfed for greater lengths of time. Researchers conclude that while more research is needed on a larger scale, they hope that these findings will help mothers make an objective decision whether or not breastfeed instead of one based on myth.

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The Baby Mum-Mum blog discusses everything to do with babies and parenting with a focus on child health and child development. Baby Mum-Mum is a healthy, easy to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and mothers around the world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste.

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On February 22, the FDA issued letters relating to labelling to 22 food companies, including several baby food manufacturers. We were advised by the FDA that we are not permitted to print the statements "Low in Fat" or "No added fat or oils" on our Baby Mum-Mum packaging.

Although these statements are true and each serving of Baby Mum-Mum does not contain any fat, the FDA has brought to our attention that these claims are technically not allowed on our packaging solely because the product is intended for consumption by infants and children under 4 years of age.

In the future, these claims will be removed from our packaging.

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