Breastfed Newborns at Lower Risk of Asthma: Study Reveals

New York: Infants exclusively breastfed during their hospital stay at birth are 22% less likely to develop asthma in early childhood, according to new research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando.

The study conducted by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, highlights the importance of early feeding practices on long-term health outcomes. Titled “Association Between Hospital Feeding Patterns and Childhood Asthma,” the research explored the impact of breastfeeding during hospitalization on asthma risk. Researchers found that exclusive breastfeeding during the birth hospitalization significantly reduces the likelihood of asthma, even when accounting for factors such as maternal race, insurance, infant sex, and hospital stay length.

Dr. Laura Placke Ward, MD, IBCLC, FAAP, co-director of the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, emphasized the lasting influence of early breastfeeding support.

“Although the birth hospitalization lasts only a few days, it sets a critical foundation for establishing breastfeeding, which can influence health outcomes like childhood asthma,” said Dr. Ward.

The study, which included 9,649 children, found that 81% of infants received some breast milk, while 31% were exclusively breastfed during their hospital stay. Five percent of the children were later diagnosed with asthma, but the rate of asthma was lower among those who were exclusively breastfed during the birth hospitalization. The study also showed that infants whose first feeding was breast milk had a lower rate of asthma compared to those who did not receive breast milk as their initial feeding.

Dr. Ward emphasized that these findings underscore the importance of hospital practices in promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the early days of life. “By focusing on these crucial first days, we may impact children's health and potentially reduce the risk of chronic conditions like asthma,” she said.

While previous studies have established that prolonged breastfeeding can reduce the risk of asthma, this research focuses specifically on the effect of breastfeeding during the short hospital stay immediately after birth. The results suggest that hospital policies that encourage exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term benefits for childhood health.