Breast‐feeding: A Commentary by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition

TLDR

The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition summarizes that breastfeeding is the natural, advisable method for healthy growth and development, highlighting current knowledge on milk composition, recommended exclusive duration, growth outcomes, health benefits, supplementation, contraindications, and the role of health care workers in supporting it. The article stresses that paediatricians should lead the implementation of policies and societal measures—such as maternity leave and workplace protections—to promote breastfeeding and communicate its health benefits, including reduced risk of infectious diarrhoea and acute otitis media. Health care workers must receive training in breastfeeding issues and counselling and promote practices that support, rather than undermine, breastfeeding. The article recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months as ideal, but also values partial or shorter durations, and encourages continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods as long as mother and child wish.

Abstract

ABSTRACT This medical position article by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition summarises the current status of breast‐feeding practice, the present knowledge on the composition of human milk, advisable duration of exclusive and partial breast‐feeding, growth of the breast‐fed infant, health benefits associated with breast‐feeding, nutritional supplementation for breast‐fed infants, and contraindications to breast‐feeding. This article emphasises the important role of paediatricians in the implementation of health policies devised to promote breast‐feeding. The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Committee on Nutrition recognises breast‐feeding as the natural and advisable way of supporting the healthy growth and development of young children. This article delineates the health benefits of breast‐feeding, reduced risk of infectious diarrhoea and acute otitis media being the best documented. Exclusive breast‐feeding for around 6 months is a desirable goal, but partial breast‐feeding as well as breast‐feeding for shorter periods of time are also valuable. Continuation of breast‐feeding after the introduction of complementary feeding is encouraged as long as mutually desired by mother and child. The role of health care workers, including paediatricians, is to protect, promote, and support breast‐feeding. Health care workers should be trained in breast‐feeding issues and counselling, and they should encourage practices that do not undermine breast‐feeding. Societal standards and legal regulations that facilitate breast‐feeding should be promoted, such as providing maternity leave for at least 6 months and protecting working mothers.