Babies Who Got Only Breast Milk in Hospital Have Lower Asthma Rates

FRIDAY, Sept. 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- If you think it isn't important to start breastfeeding your newborn while still in the hospital, think again.

New research shows that infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalization right after birth were 22% less likely to develop asthma in early childhood.

The findings, to be presented Sunday at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., held even after adjusting for maternal race, insurance, infant sex and length of hospital stay.