Breastfeeding – the Best
Start in Infant’s Life
Breastmilk is natural and perfect food for the baby.
WHO recommends that all infants should be fed exclusively on breastmilk until they are six months of age and
continued to be breastfed till two years or beyond along with the introduction
of adequate complementary foods after six months of age. Breastmilkprovides
uniquely appropriate concentrations of almost all the nutrients for infants at
the time when the growth and development rates are maximal. Mother’s milk
comprises of White Blood Cells (leucocytes), macrophages and epithelial cells;
lipids (triacylgycerols, free fatty acids,
phospholipids, sterols, hydrocarbons and fat soluble vitamins); carbohydrates
(lactose, galactose,
glucose, oligosaccharides, and glycoproteins); protein (casein, α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, immunoglobins like SlgA and
others,lysozymes, enzymes, harmones and growth factors); non-protein
nitrogenous compounds (urea,creatine, creatinine,
uric acid, amino acids including glutamine, nucleic acid, nucleotides and
polyamines), water soluble vitamins, macronutrient elements, trace elements and
various non nutritional components (anti-microbial factors, digestive enzymes
and growth modulators) that promote the infant’s growth and development.
In comparison
to artificial feeding, breastfeeding is associated with lower morbidity and
mortality at all ages. Recent child survival data have reported that promotion
of exclusive breastfeeding for first six months and continued breastfeeding for
6 - 11 months is the single most effective intervention that reduces under-5
child mortality by 13 - 15 per cent. In
another study, it is reported that 16
per cent of neonatal deaths could be averted if all infants were breastfed from
the first day of childbirth and 22 per cent if breastfeeding was started within
the first hour itself. Breastfeeding is protective against several infections
including diarrhoea and respiratory infections, in
addition to many chronic problems like hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases
and others. Breastfed babies have shown to have a higherIntelligence Quotient. It enhances emotional bond between the
child and the mother, provides warmth, love/ affection and is, thus, much more
than just a food. Breastmilk is
clean, free from bacteria and has anti-infective factors as well as it is
readily available to the baby when she/he wants, needs no preparation and is at
right temperature. In addition to this, it is economical (particularly for our
poorer sectors) and free from contamination.
Breastfeeding
has many health benefits for the mother too. It reduces anemia. Obesity is less common among nursing
mothers as it helps the mother to regain her normal figure. It is protective
against breast and ovarian cancers. Exclusive breastfeeding has contraceptive
effect during first 6 month postpartum. Mothers
who exclusively breastfeed are better adjusted with their babies as far as
rearing and behavioural adjustments are concerned.
Breastfeeding is beneficial for the society as it lowers health care cost by
reducing illness among children and thus, reduces the financial strain on the
family. Fewer sickness in
children as a reward of breastfeeding, allows the mothers to attend to their
work more efficiently and thus, accrue greater cost benefits to their employers
as well. Hence like mother’s love there is no substitute for mother’s milk.
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