The American Association of Pediatricians, or AAP, states that "breastfeeding ensures the best possible health" for infants. One reason that breastfeeding provides such wonderful health benefits is that it passes the mother's natural immunity over to her baby. Newborns lack the immune system needed to fight off viruses and bacteria. Immunity needed to fight illnesses is provided through the mother's breast milk, something that infant formula cannot replicate.
Illnesses and Diseases Protected Against
Antibodies in the mother's breast milk helps to protect her baby from many different types of illness and disease. Some of these conditions include diarrhea, respiratory infections including the common cold and the flu, ear infections, urinary tract infections, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, bacteremia and certain types of cancer including leukemia, lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease.
Components of Breast Milk
Renowned pediatrician, Dr. Bob Sears, explains that breast milk contains millions of white blood cells that seek out and eliminate germs within a baby's body. Another substance, known as immunoglobulin A, or IgA, helps prevent germs from passing through the intestine to the rest of the body. IgA helps prevent illness by coating the intestines which are immature at birth. This action also helps to prevent allergens from passing through the intestines into the blood stream that could cause food allergies.
Colostrum
Colostrum is the thick, yellowish substance that babies first receive from the breast after birth. Colostrum is very concentrated and only produced in a small amount before the milk is produced. This important substance contains even higher amounts of antibodies, white blood cells and IgA than mature milk. Colostrum provides a very important first dose of immunity for newborn babies.
Protection Against Family Illnesses
As a breastfeeding mother, you do not have to worry about discontinuing breastfeeding just because you become sick. In fact, your body will make antibodies against whatever you are infected with to help keep your baby healthy. You may notice that everyone in your house gets sick except for your breastfed infant. The antibodies contained in breast milk decrease your baby's risk of coming down with illnesses such as the cold or flu that other members of the household may have.
References
- AAP; Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk; February 2005
- AAP: AAP Policy on Breastfeeding and Use of Human Milk
- AskDrSears.com: How Human Milk Protects Babies From Illness
- La Leche League; What is Colostrum?; Oct. 14, 2007
- Children's Hospital Boston: Breastfeeding -- Benefits of Mother's Own Milk
