6 Exclusive breast feeding for greater than 4 months reduces the incidence of asthma and atopy in children. 7 Breast feeding may also decrease the prevalence of obesity in children. The question of the transmission of the HIV 1virus by breast feeding is an important one, especially in regions where AIDS is endemic. While the virus can be transmitted by breast milk 9 the incidence of this transmission is low in the first three months 10 and most infants infected are most likely infected in utero or during delivery. Moreover in areas where access to safe milk alternatives is poor, the benefits of exclusive breast feeding during the first three months may well outweigh the risk of HIV transmission.
Milk provides caloric energy to permit normal growth and development.
This milk yield gradually increases for the first 36 hours, followed by a dramatic increase during the next 49 to 96 hours. The stools of breastfed newborns go through several changes and can be used as an indication of milk intake. An infant who is stooling fewer than four times daily and who is not gaining weight appropriately must be evaluated. In these cases one must pay attention to latching on and the intake of hindmilk, which tends to stimulate stooling. As the feeding progresses, the fat content of the milk rises steadily as the volume decreases.