34 BREAST VS FORMULA FEEDING: SOLID FOODS, ILLNESS AND 34 WEIGHT GAIN

Abstract

A prospective longitudinal (birth, 6wks, 3mos, 6mos) study of 539 healthy mothers and infants in a North American urban setting was conducted to determine the effects of breast (B) vs formula (F) feeding. Data from those who discontinued breast feeding in the first 6mos (B/F) provided comparative analyses which, in contrast to past studies, discriminated effects associated with SES from effects associated with the type of milk the infant received. The B and B/F groups were comparable in SES and each differed (p<.001) from the F group in 4 major SES factors. Both F and B/F groups introduced solid foods earlier than did the B group (p<.01 -<.001) and they both tended to use commercially--rather than home-prepared solids (p<.01-<.0001). Within the B/F group duration of breast-feeding and not SES was directly related to these practices. Reported general illness, digestive illness and verified medical treatment was significantly lower in incidence for B, as compared with the F group (p<.05-<.01). Within the B/F group duration of breast-feeding and not SES was directly related to incidence of digestive illness. Finally, among the 3 groups and despite early solid feeding in the B/F and F groups, there were no differences in weight gain. No significant effects were related to gender. This study provided empirical evidence of the health benefits of breast feeding for the first 6mos in a N. Am. sample and empirical distinction between factors related to feeding choice (SES) and factors related to feeding practices.