Guide To Breastfeeding

Advantages Of Breast Milk:

Of many advantages, the foremost is that mother's milk is easily available, clean, uncontaminated and sterile.Moreover, it is available at a correct temperature for the baby's needs.It contains anti-infective factors which shield the baby from external infections.It contains what controls viral and bacterial infections in the baby's initial months.

In rural areas, breast milk is used as eye drops in viral conjunctivitis and minor eye infections as a first aid.

A healthy lactating mother secretes about 500ml of milk per day, and it might increase increase upto 700ml in the first year of lactation.The calorific value of breast milk is 70 per 100ml of milk and this fully meets the requirements of the infant.

Lactoferrin, a protein in breast milk, provides considerable protection against intestinal and respiratory infections.This lactoferrin acts as a strong bacteriostatic so that the breast milk remains sterile for hours.

Hence, a career woman can collect her milk in a clean, sterile bowl and this could be administered to the infant in her absence.The milk that is secreted during the first week is very rich in protein and protective antibodies.This is called colostrum, which is slightly creamish in colour and concentrated.This provides the maximum protection to the gastrointestinal system.But unfortunately, many are ignorant of the benefit of this valuable secretion.There is a myth prevailing about it, especially in rural areas of the developing countries.This is regarded as the first waste from the breast.So they express this milk and throw it away.They start feeding only when the milk secreted is thin and white-coloured.

Human milk has less protein and hence, is more easily digestible than cow's milk.The intestinal mucosa of the baby during the first 2-3 months is very vulnerable to infections.During this early stage, if the baby is fed cow's milk, then due to its higher content of protein the baby might develop allergy to cow's milk.But one need not face this situation if the baby is exclusively breast-fed.Human milk is a rich source of carnitine which develops healthy liver activities.Breast milk also helps absorption of calcium and promotes brain growth.It has been proved that breast-fed children have higher IQ's than the deprived ones.It promotes an emotional bond between the mother and the child.The child recognises the mother through the sense of touch and this makes the baby feel more secure.

Studies and research are proving the concept of "Touch Therapy" according to which the breast-fed child who enjoys the constant touch of its mother while nursing and sleeping grows up to be a confident and bright citizen.Hence, they advocate "No" to bottle and cradle.Moreover, breast-feeding is more convenient and also economic.No bottle sterilisation hassles, no preparation of artificial feeds.There are many misconceptions even amongst the educated that breastfeeding affects their figure.But this is not true.Breast feeding never alters a woman's figure.

Another misbelief is that, when a child has mild diarrhoea, it is assumed that it has been caused by breast milk and thus, nursing is discontinued.However, it should be remembered that breast milk never causes diarrhoea.