Though World Breastfeeding Week has just come and gone, we need to continue emphasising the importance of breastfeeding for your child’s survival.
IT is a touching scene amidst the savage backdrop of wildlife: a newborn tiger cub nestling against its mother’s body, suckling her milk. Mother Nature gave all mammals, including humans, the unique gift of mother’s milk. It provides perfect nutrition for the newborn. Every newborn baby has a natural desire to suckle at the mother’s warm breast. Unfortunately, while animals have the good sense to nurse their newborns, humans seem to have sacrificed this natural practice.
Health authorities are now making it a point to remind parents that babies should be exclusively breastfed for six months after birth. “Exclusive” means that the baby should not be given any infant formula, animal milk, drinks or foods other than breast milk, as well as any pacifiers or artificial teats. After six months, babies should continue to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond, with increasing amounts of complementary foods and cup-fed liquids.
It’s not just any milk
Breast milk is a divine gift meant for the survival of humanity. Mother’s milk is not the same as the bottled cow’s milk that you buy from the supermarket. The milk produced by a woman is uniquely suited for her own baby, and is different from another mother’s milk. Although scientists today know more about human milk, nevertheless it has become increasingly apparent that infant formula can never replicate human milk. Human milk has unique structures and contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds that infant formula cannot duplicate.
The colostrum (the first milk produced in the first few hours after birth) and breast milk produced adapt to the baby’s development, so that each form of breast milk changes composition to meet the baby’s changing needs at different ages. Colostrum is often mistakenly discarded because it is yellow and thick, and does not look like milk! It is actually a very valuable form of breast milk – it contains more protein, vitamin A, antibodies and white blood cells than later milk. Colostrum is also rich in growth factors and stimulates immature intestines to develop.
The later milk, or mature breast milk, is also incredibly special. The milk that is initially produced during a feeding session is called foremilk, which is grey and watery and rich in protein, lactose, vitamins, minerals and water. Towards the end of the feeding session, the breast will start to produce hindmilk, which is whiter than foremilk because it contains more fat. Breast milk provides all the nutrients that are crucial for an infant’s growth and development. Most importantly, it contains an easily digestible form of protein that is perfect for the baby’s growth and brain development, as well as fat, which is the main source of energy for a growing baby. One of the important components of fat is long-chain (omega 3) fatty acids, which play a vital role in baby’s brain development.
Breast milk also provides nutrients in easily digestible and absorbable forms, which is necessary in a baby’s not-yet developed digestive system. For instance, there are enzymes in breast milk that predigest the fat so that it is immediately available to the baby as energy. There are also special transfer factors in the milk that help the baby’s intestines to absorb iron from breast milk at a rate of 49%. A baby would only be able to absorb 10% of iron in cow’s milk and 4% in iron-fortified infant formula.
Ensuring baby’s good health
At such a tender age, infants are very susceptible to infections because their immune systems are not fully developed yet. However, breast milk can protect babies against infections and illnesses like gastrointestinal disturbances, respiratory problems and ear infections, because it contains live cells and antibodies. There are also dozens of anti-inflammatory agents in the milk that reduce the harm caused by uncontrolled inflammation.
Breast milk also contains bifidus factors that help “good” bacteria grow in the baby’s intestines and prevent “bad” bacteria from growing. Breastfed babies are less likely than formula-fed babies to develop allergies, as their gastrointestinal tracts develop more quickly, thus preventing foreign proteins from entering the system. A lower exposure to foreign proteins creates tolerance rather than an allergic response. There are also nutrients in the milk, like zinc and long-chain fatty acids, that aid the development of baby’s immune system.
On the other hand, babies who are fed infant formula are at greater risk of a number of health problems – not just now, but later in life as well. Among the problems they are more likely to face are gastrointestinal infections, respiratory infections, necrotising enterocolitis, urinary tract infection, ear infections, allergic diseases (eg eczema, asthma), insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1), cardiovascular disease in later life, childhood cancers, sudden infant death syndromes and dental malocclusion.
Good for mum too!
Breastfeeding has benefits for mum too! It helps the mother’s uterus to contract and decreases bleeding after delivery. It also delays the return of menstruation, so it helps to conserve the mother’s iron stores. Breastfeeding acts as a natural form of contraception, so it will help to prevent another pregnancy from occurring too soon. It is also believed that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as hip fractures.
There are other wonderful things about breastfeeding that make a mum’s life a lot easier! For instance, there is no need to buy infant formula or feeding supplies for at least the next six months, no need to worry about running out of milk, no need to prepare milk in the middle of the night or while travelling. Best of all, breastfeeding gives mum the perfect opportunity to bond with her baby. During this precious time, when she is giving her baby the most invaluable gift, nothing can come between the both of them.
The Star Newspaper,Sunday August 5, 2007
DR NOR ASHIKIN MOKHTAR
