By John Heys
Staff writer

Cassie Martin decided to breast-feed her first daughter, Corinna, partly because she had a role model.

“My mother breast-fed,” said Martin, 31, who lives in Huntington with her husband, Cory, and their daughter, now 7 months old. Another motivation was the growing scientific evidence that the practice has benefits for the health of both mother and child.

“I just knew it was the healthier thing for her, so I decided to do it,” Martin said.

Earlier this month, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its strongest recommendation to date encouraging new mothers to breast-feed, calling human milk “uniquely superior” to formula. The position paper included a long list of health benefits for the child, including lower rates of bacterial meningitis, respiratory infections, earaches and juvenile diabetes.

“Breast-feeding ensures the best possible health as well as the best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant,” last month’s recommendation said.

In older children, research suggests lower rates of lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, obesity and asthma among those who were breast-fed, according to the academy. The children also seem to score better on intelligence tests early in life.

For the breast-feeding mom, research shows reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, plus a lower chance of developing osteoporosis.

“The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages,” said Kathy Linkous, a registered nurse and certified lactation consultant who teaches future nurses at the University of Charleston. Last weekend, Linkous and some of her students led a seminar on breast-feeding for interested parents.

Debbie Roehm, a certified lactation consultant at Cabell-Huntington Hospital, said many expectant parents are surprised to learn about all the health benefits.

“I tell them, ‘What you have is indispensable,’” said Roehm, who teaches classes to expectant parents and works with new parents to help with breast-feeding. The “what” includes immunity to a variety of bugs, including colds and flu. The mom’s resistance is passed to the child through the milk, which can mean fewer trips to the hospital.

Martin said breast-feeding made her spend more time holding her daughter. A newborn can feed as often as every hour and a half.

“It really does create an enhanced bond between mother and baby,” said Angy Nixon, a certified nurse midwife who lives in Scott Depot.

The academy’s recommendation is part of a growing shift away from infant formula, which was once considered better than mothers’ own breast milk. For some, using formula instead of breast-feeding remains a sign of affluence, Nixon said.

The percentage of women breast-feeding immediately after giving birth has risen since 1990, but the rate for mothers still doing so after six months hasn’t kept pace, according to researchers. Both figures are below the rates called for in the Healthy People 2010 goals, a set of federal health objectives.

By 2010, 50 percent of new mothers should still be breast-feeding as their child reaches 6 months. Only about 36 percent of mothers are doing so now, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups recommend newborns have breast milk exclusively for the first six months of life.

Experts blame a lack of support for new moms as one reason some don’t try breast-feeding or don’t stick with it. New mothers (and fathers) need education before and after their baby arrives so they know what to expect, they say.

Mothers also need support from the rest of the family, especially the father, Roehm said.

“There are a lot of dads who don’t support mom’s decision to breast-feed,” Roehm said. “If I have a dad who is supportive, it usually works.”

A bill introduced last week in West Virginia could make it easier for mothers to breast-feed outside the home. The Child’s Right to Nurse Act would allow a mother to breast-feed in public. Thirty-two states have similar laws. West Virginia currently has no laws on the subject.

During a news conference about the bill last week at the Capitol, Jennifer Bryant of Sharples described being asked by a security guard to stop breast-feeding her then 5-month-old daughter at the Charleston Civic Center during the 2004 auto show.

The bill is endorsed by several different health organizations in the state.

Martin, Corinna’s mother, credited the support she got after her daughter was born for her continued breast-feeding. She meets with other parents once a month to talk about the subject with a lactation consultant. Parents ask a lot of questions and learn from each other’s experiences.

Martin tells new mothers to stick with breast-feeding, even if it’s tough at first. Roehm has similar advice.

“I tell all my moms it’s a learned behavior,” she said. “Be patient with it. It’s a learning process for both baby and mom.”

To contact staff writer John Heys, use e-mail or call 348-1254.