Are you confused?  Human beings and medicine are so complex that this happens pretty regularly–there are often times when the research doesn’t give a clear answer.  Usually this means that we have to ask additional questions and do additional studies to get  clearer answers.  I am certain we will have a much clearer understanding of the effects of breastfeeding on asthma in the next few years. 

Are you confused about whether you should nurse your baby? Don’t let this article confuse you. The clear answer is YES, nursing is still unquestionably the bets way to feed your baby if you are able to.  The Reuters article quoted Dr Malcolm Sears, who did the study in New Zealand:  “There are 101 good reasons to breastfeed,” said Sears. “Whether or not it protects you against asthma, you should choose to breastfeed for all the other good reasons.”

You can find a long list of the Benefits of Breastfeeding on womenshealth.gov.  Many people know that nursing can help prevent ear infections,  stomach infections, and respiratory infections in babies.  It may also help to prevent eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), obesity, and diabetes.  But did you know that it can also help prevent type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and post-partum depression in moms who nurse?  And of course, it is less expensive to nurse a baby than to buy formula.  Moms who are not able to nurse because of medical, work or other reasons should not feel bad that they aren’t able to nurse.  But if you are able to do it, you definitely should!  It will be good for your baby, good for you, and even good for your pocketbook.