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Running head: BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Melissa Jordan
California Baptist University
Author’s Note
This paper is being submitted to Professor Susan A. Jetton in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for Research and Writing for the Healthcare Professions, NUR 375, on February
12, 2015.

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BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
Benefits of Breastfeeding
“If every child was breastfed within an hour of birth, given only breast milk for their first
six months of life, and continued breastfeeding up to the age of two years, about 800,000 child
lives would be saved every year” (World Health Organization, 2014). There are numerous
benefits to breast-feeding not only for the child, but for the mother. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO) 2014, breastfeeding contributes to a lifetime of good health.
Adolescents and adults who were breastfed as babies are less likely to be overweight or obese
(WHO, 2014). This paper will analyze research conducted by Jenkins and Foster (2014) on the
effects of breastfeeding exclusivity, and present a synthesis of other research findings that
include the health benefits of breastfeeding, the protective impact breastfeeding has on
postpartum depression in delivering mothers, and how the findings from these studies can be
implemented into practice.
Analysis of Primary Article
Jenkins and Foster (2014) conducted a quantitative early childhood longitudinal study
that investigated the relationships between exclusively breastfeeding and duration to the child’s
health and cognitive outcomes for children ages two to four years of age. The sample size
chosen for this study included 10,700 children born in the United States and the children were
assigned to one of nine exclusive categories: never breastfed, and eight categories representing
zero to seven or more months of being breastfeed exclusively (Jenkins & Foster, 2014).
Breastfeeding status was determined by data collected from parents that described when children
first were fed formula, food, finger food or milk (Jenkins & Foster, 2014).

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BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
Methodology
The methodology used during this study were parent interviews and the child’s
developmental status at nine months, two years, four years and in kindergarten, with the focus on
the child’s health and cognitive outcomes at ages two and four years of age (Jenkins & Foster,
2014). Jenkins and Foster used trained administrators that used the collected data on the
individual, family and community factors that influence children’s health and development
during these visits with the child and the primary caregiver in the family’s home and the scores
given were developed by National Center for Education Statistics using item response theory
(Jenkins & Foster, 2014).
Findings of the Study
The findings of this study showed non-significant positive effects of breastfeeding
exclusivity (BFE) in reading, math and fine motor skills at age 4 years. At age 2 years BFE only
had significant positive effects in cognitive skills (Jenkins & Foster, 2014). As for nine months
and children in kindergarten there were no significant findings to report (Jenkins & Foster,
2014). Jenkins and Foster (2014) support some of the more immediate benefits of breastfeeding
in terms of nutrition and immunity
After Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Foster conducted this research, they concluded that the key
weakness found was that unobserved breastfeeding remained a potential threat to the internal
validity of the findings, which could be hiding the true benefits of breastfeeding (Jenkins &
Foster, 2014). Without observing, there might have been confounding variables such as
frequency and length of breastfeeding (Jenkins & Foster, 2014).

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BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
Synthesis
Jenkins and Foster (2014) had significant findings on the positive effects of breastfeeding
in infancy and children. Research by Hahn-Holbrook, Haselton, Schetter & Glynn (2013)
showed that breastfeeding not only has benefits for infants, but shows a relationship in the
decline in the symptomology of depression in postpartum women and later in life. An additional
study by Clarkson and A du Plessis (2011) shows that increased knowledge of the health benefits
of breastfeeding increases the likelihood of people choosing to breastfeed.
Similarities and Differences Among the Type of Research
The similarities among research by Hahn-Holbrook et. al (2013) and Jenkins and Foster
(2014) were they both used a quantitative, longitudinal study, using interviews to collect data
whereas A du Plessis et. al (2011) used a qualitative questionnaire to conduct their study. Even
though Hahn-Holbrook et. al’s study was on mothers and Jenkins et. al and A du Plessis et. al
were on children, all three studies were similar indicating that the benefits of breastfeeding are
multifactorial.
Similarities and Differences Among Methods
A du Plessis et. al’s (2011) study incorporated a Breastfeeding Treasure Box that
included 14 items that represented a benefit of breastfeeding together with a lesson plan. In a
session during the study participants would take an object from the box that was a benefit of
breastfeeding and in turn this would encourage discussion, increase knowledge of the benefit and
stimulate participants interest to find out more. Jenkins and Foster (2014) or Hahn-Holbrook et.
al (2013) did not incorporate the use of additional tools besides interviews into their studies.
Similarities and Differences Among Results

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BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
The results of Jenkins and Foster (2014) and Hahn-Holbrook et. al (2013) studies showed
that there are benefits to breastfeeding. Hahn-Holbrook et. al found more substantial evidence
that breastfeeding has a stronger impact on mothers emotional wellbeing and developing
depression postpartum or later in life. Results of the study from A du Plessis et. al (2011) found
that raising awareness on the health benefits of breastfeeding results in increased breastfeeding.
Jenkins and Foster found research could support the more instantaneous benefits of breastfeeding
in relation of immunity and nutrition.
Application to Practice
A du Plessis et. al’s (2011) study found that raising awareness of the health benefits of
breastfeeding results in more women choosing to breastfeed. Therefore according to the Center
of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2015), nurses can help establish and implement
policies and programs to ensure breastfeeding mothers have services in place prenatally and
before discharge from the hospital. According to the Department of Health & Human Services
(HHS) (2015) prenatal classes can be used to help inform women about the health advantages of
breastfeeding, both for babies and mothers, and instructors can explain to women the process and
techniques they can use to breastfeed. This would help implement a solid foundation as to the
importance of breastfeeding their newborn baby and the proper way to breastfeed. While in the
hospital the HHS (2015) states it is important to, “give the mothers the support they need to
breastfeed their babies” (HHS, 2015) this is where lactation nurses can come alongside the
pregnant women and their families to implement teaching about breastfeeding that includes
proper breastfeeding technique, positioning of the infant, and answering questions to alleviate
any fears or concerns future mothers may have. Follow-up services can be made available with
the lactation consultants to ensure mothers are feeling confident about continuing to

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BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
breastfeeding. HHS (2015) reports that successful initiation depends on experiences in the
hospital as well as access to instruction on lactation from breastfeeding experts, particularly in
the early postpartum period.
This can be included in the standard of care for breastfeeding mothers so that all mothers
are included in the teaching and practice not just new mothers. Nurses can also help encourage
breastfeeding by working with hospital administration, doctors, and nurses to implement the
Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) founded by UNICEF and the WHO in 1997. Baby
friendly hospitals increases rates of initial breastfeeding and provides resources and support
which increases patient satisfaction (Baby-friendly USA, Inc., 2012). According to the baby
friendly website 2012, there are 10 steps to successful breastfeeding some of these steps include;
informing all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding, helping
mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth, show mothers how to breastfeed and how
to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants, and not giving infants food or
drink other than breast-milk, unless medically indicated (Baby-friendly USA, Inc., 2012). By
implementing this program mothers and children would be well on their way to gaining the many
benefits breastfeeding has to offer.
Conclusion
Studies by Jenkins and Foster (2014) demonstrated that it would be misleading to imply
that there are definitive long-term benefits of breastfeeding for children, especially to cognition
and health, but could support the immediate benefits of breastfeeding in terms of immunity and
nutrition. However, both studies by Hahn-Holbrook et. al (2013) and A du Plessis et. al, (2011)
showed significant benefits for mother and child. The information obtained from A du Plessis et.

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al study shows that increased knowledge of the health benefits of breastfeeding increases the
likelihood of mothers choosing to breastfeed. By implementing the BFHI into our hospitals, it
will help initiate new policies and programs to support all mothers in breastfeeding their infants
initially and for longer periods of time. By applying these tactics into practice there is potential
for improving mother and child’s health immediately and decrease potential risks in the future.

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References
Baby-friendly USA, Inc. (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/about-us/baby-friendly-hospital-initiative/the-ten-steps
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2013). Strategy 7. Access to breastfeeding
education and information. 33-40. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2013Accesstobreastfeedingeducationandinformati
on.pdf.
Clarkson, M. K., & A du Plessis, R. (2011). Discussion of the health benefits of breastfeeding
within small groups. Community Practitioner, 84(1), 31-34.
Department of Health and Human Services (US). The Surgeon General’s call to action to support
breastfeeding. Washington: HHS, Office of the Surgeon General; 2011. Also available
from: URL: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/breastfeeding/
calltoactiontosupportbreastfeeding.pdf [cited 2011 Jun 26].
Hahn-Holbrook, J., Haselton, M. G., Dunkel Schetter, C., & Glynn, L. M. (2013). Does
breastfeeing offer protection against maternal depressive symptomatology? A
prospective study from pregnancy to 2 years after birth. Womens Mental Health, 16,
411-422.
Jenkins, J. M., & Foster, E. (2014). The effects of breastfeeding exclusivity on early
childhood outcomes. American Journal of Public Health, 9(1), 40-47.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). 10 facts on breastfeeding. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/en/.

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BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING