Breastfed infants are less likely to have a fever after vaccinations than non-breastfed infants.
The mothers of young infants were instructed to measure and record the temperatures of 450 infants on the evening of a routine vaccination and for the following three days.
Fever was reported for 25% of the babies who were exclusively breastfed, 31% of the babies who were partially breastfed, and 53% of babies who were not breastfed at all.
The study, “Breastfeeding and Risk for Fever after Immunization,” will appear in the June print issue of Pediatrics (published online May 17)
The reason? Human milk is rich in anti-inflammatory substances which may explain the reduced incidence of fever.
But study authors point out that fever could also be the result of inflammatory agents triggered by poor feeding, which is common when children are sick.
Researchers say that breastfed infants are less likely to have poor feeding –most likely because breastfeeding is not just a source of nourishment for baby, but also a source of comfort during illness.
Another reason that breastfed babies might be less likely to spike a fever may be because they take in more nutrients when they are sick.
The close contact with the mother that breastfeeding offers, rather than some components of human milk, could also explain why fever is less likely among breast fed infants.
Are Arizona moms choosing to breastfeed? The CDC Breastfeeding Report Card shows that the number of infants who are breastfed in Arizona tops the national average. Utah topped the list; Mississippi came in last.
Yet the percentage of babies who are exclusively breast feed at three months in Arizona is well below the national average. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for around the first six months of life.
