Mother’s Milk- Baby’s Best Gift

In this speed age the values of motherhood, giving birth to a new one and then rearing them have changed. Most women happily undergo the pangs of pregnancy to have a little one of their own but do not think it important to nourish this small life so dear to them after birth. Many mothers find it difficult to sacrifice time from their careers and feel the child will be equally nourished by the commercially available formulas.

All mothers must realize this is a folly. Mother’s milk is the complete nutrition for the baby from birth till it is 6 months old. After birth babies should be breastfed within 1/2 to 1 hour. Nothing should be given before the first breast-feed. They should be given Colostrum - the yellowish milk secreted during first 2-3 days. Epidemiological research shows that human milk and breastfeeding of infants provide advantages with regard to general health, growth, and development, which significantly decrease risk from a large number of acute and chronic diseases.

Some advantages of Breast-feeding

1. Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; Human milk being very complex scientists are still trying to unravel and understand what makes it such a good source of nutrition for rapidly growing and developing infants. All substitute-feeding options differ markedly from it.

2. Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q. Human breast milk enhances brain development and improves cognitive development in ways that formula cannot.

3. Breast milk helps pass meconium. Babies are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines. Colostrum, or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the infant's body.

4. Babies can digest human milk more easily than the milk of other animals, probably because human milk contains an enzyme that aids in this process.

5. Breast milk forms softer curds in the infant's stomach than cow's milk (the basis for most formulas) and is more quickly assimilated into the body system. While it contains less protein than does cow's milk, virtually all the protein in breast milk is available to the baby. By contrast, about half the protein in cow's milk passes through the baby's body as a waste product. Similarly, iron and zinc are absorbed well by breastfed babies.

6. Breast milk is always the right temperature. Severe burns to babies' mouths have occurred due to improper heating of artificial milks. Even when it's done correctly, it's never fun to try to warm a bottle for a fussing baby.

7. Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein. Formula companies are constantly adjusting these proportions looking for the best composition. The reality is that a mother's milk composition changes from feeding to feeding depending on the needs of her child. No formula can do that

8. Human milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in infant formula.

9. Breast-feeding helps reduce the occurrence of diarrhea, ear infection, respiratory infections and urinary tract infections. It also protects against diseases like SIDS, diabetes and digestive disorders. No other milk, food or drink is required

10. Bottle-feeding is unnecessary and even harmful for babies. It is the leading cause of diarrhea in babies.

11. For the mother breast-feeding helps her lose weight faster, reduces risk of some forms of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and helps uterus to return to its normal size quickly.

12. Nursing may have psychological benefits for the infant as well, creating an early attachment between mother and child. At birth, infants see only 12 to 15 inches, the distance between a nursing baby and its mother's face

13. The nursing baby also enjoys a sense of security from the warmth and presence of the mother

14. Breast fed babies are lesser prone to dental decay and the occurrence of cavities is more in those children who fell asleep with a bottle in their mouth.

15. Researchers feel breastfeeding also lowers the risk of some forms of childhood leukemia,

Breastfeeding is essential for the first one year and can be continued well into the second year of life. All mothers therefore should not deprive children of their right to be breast fed, thereby helping themselves and their children live healthier and more meaningful lives.