CERP: yes
The topic of epigenetics has been increasingly on health care provider’s radar as something of importance. What are epigenetics and what do they have to do with breastfeeding? This and other questions, such as how do epigenetics play into a baby’s growth both in the womb, once it is born, and throughout a lifetime, will be explored. We inherit genetic materials from our parents but what controls those genes and how they are expressed? These controls from our external environment and from inside our bodies greatly impact this process. The nutrition from breastmilk and the very act of breastfeeding itself influence both the mother and baby’s epigenetics. We also now know that these factors are passed down through many generations. We will discuss the basics of epigenetics and how does breastfeeding fit into this picture based upon the latest research.