The World Health Organization recommends breast milk as the exclusive source of nourishment for infants up to the age of 6 months. Breast milk is the perfect food for young babies because it contains many different nutrients that are essential to their growth and well-being. Breastfeeding offers a host of health benefits to both the baby and the mother. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing infections and diseases during childhood and the later stages of life.
Nutrients in Colostrum
Colostrum is the breast milk a mother produces immediately after giving birth. This milk is thick in consistency and yellow in color. Nicknamed "liquid gold," colostrum is an invaluable source of nutrition for a newborn. It contains a high concentration of essential nutrients and antibodies that protect the infant in the first days of life. Three to five days after birth, the mother's body stops producing colostrum and secretes "mature" milk, which is whiter and thinner in consistency.
Antibodies in Breast Milk
Human milk contains immunoglobulin antibodies that the mother's body produced during different times as a defense mechanism against various infections. These antibodies act in a similar manner to protect the baby from infections. Breast milk also contains nucleotides, the enzyme lysozyme and the protein lactoferrin, all of which have specific antimicrobial functions. Colostrum and mature breast milk are also rich in leukocytes or white blood cells, which defend the newborn against pathogenic microbes.
Lower Risk of Infections
Breastfeeding eliminates the risk of water-borne diseases, which is possible when formula is mixed with contaminated water. When a breastfeeding mother develops an infection, her body produces antibodies to fight that infection. Her breast milk carries these antibodies to her baby, offering a defense mechanism against infection and improving the speed of recovery. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing allergies, diarrhea, pneumonia, eczema, ear infections and urinary tract infections, says the American Academy of Family Physicians. The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is also lower among breastfed babies.
Benefits in Later Life
Breast milk changes in composition and consistency as your baby grows, offering the perfect nutrition at different stages of growth. It is also the most convenient and cost-effective way of feeding your baby. The health benefits of breastfeeding may last well into adulthood. Breastfed infants are less likely to suffer from childhood leukemia or breast cancer later in life. The WHO notes that breastfeeding lowers the risk of several health conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and type-2 diabetes in adulthood and may also enable better performance on intelligence tests.
References
- World Health Organization: 10 Facts on Breastfeeding
- "The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association"; Breastfeeding, the Immune Response, and Long-term Health; Kelly M. Jackson, PhD, et al; April 2006
- WomensHealth.gov: Why Breastfeeding Is Important; August 2010
- Healthy Children: Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby's Immune System; January 2011
