The Importance Of Breast Milk And Breastfeeding

Breast milk provides the primary source of nutrition for baby before they are able to eat and digest other foods; It is the newborn’s privilege and the mother’s pleasure to breast feed her baby. Termed as lactation, the secretion of milk from breasts is beneficial for both the mother and the child in a number of ways.
Breast milk can also be supplied by a woman other than the baby’s mother; either via donated pumped milk (for example from a milk bank), or when a woman nurses a child other than her own at her breast – this is known as wet nursing.

The Significance Of Breast Milk To The Baby includes:-

• it is the easiest and the healthiest way to feed a newborn, as the milk is rich in nutrients.
• Breastfeeding reduces the chances of infection and increases the immunity of the baby
• Breast milk contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes, which aid the baby’s digestion.
• Amino acids – the building blocks of proteins – present in breast milk are well balanced for the baby. These proteins aid the proper functioning of the baby’s intestinal tract. It’s suggested also that the amino acid present in breast milk helps the baby to acquire sound sleep during the night time.
• Breast milk is rich in lymphocytes and macrophages, which protect the newborn against intestinal inflammation.
• Breast milk is a rich source of iron, which can be easily absorbed by the infant better than any other source of the mineral.
• Breast milk promotes the overall health of the baby
• Since mother’s milk is available at the optimum temperature that is most suitable for the infant, it is free from all possible sources of contamination.
• The immunoglobulins (antibodies) present in the breast milk protect the baby from upper respiratory infections and gastro intestinal infections. This is the reason why breast fed babies stay healthier than their formula fed counterparts.
• The hormone prolactin, responsible for the production of breast milk, functions as a natural tranquilizer for the mother and baby alike.
• Formula-fed children are likely to become obese, when they reach the stage of adolescence. On the other hand, those fed with breast milk are less likely to be obese at their teenage.
• Breast feeding plays a pivotal role in preventing various kinds of digestive diseases in the infant, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Childhood cancers such as leukemia are also prevented by breast feeding.
• Breast milk lowered the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), increased intelligence, decreased likelihood of contracting middle ear infections, cold, and flu bugs, lower risk of childhood onset diabetes, decreased risk of asthma and eczema, decreased dental problems, and decreased risk of obesity later in life, decreased risk of developing psychological disorders.

The Significance Of Breast Milk To The Mother includes:-

• Breast feeding helps to assists the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size and reduces post-partum bleeding as well as assisting the mother to return to her pre-pregnancy weight.
• Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer later in life.
• Breastfeeding saves times and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula, and there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night.
• Breastfeeding also helps a mother bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.

The importance of breast milk and breast feeding can just go on and on, however, there are real incidence of mothers passing germs and bacterias to their baby during their breastfeeding session and turn out making matters worst for both mother and baby.

Although breastmilk is free of contamination and disease, the breasts of the mother are not. Proper care of the breasts are very important and nipples are to be cleaned before and after each feed. Germs and bacterias do grow very quickly in milk residue and will cause risk of breast infection. The nipples are best to be cleaned with Sterilized Nipple Wipes from Nuk, which is made of 100% cotton with no chemical and preservatives and contains only purified water. They are individually sealed air-tight and very convenient to carry, so no matter you are at home, in office, even on an airplane, you can be assured that you are feeding the best to your baby and nothing else. For maximum comfort, you may even warm or cool Nuk Nipple Wipes by putting the unopened sachet into warm water or refrigerator.

For whatever it’s worth, breastfeeding is a special and rewarding time that is shared between you and your baby and should never be traded with anything else.

Related posts:

1. Worried About Underfeeding Your Baby With Breast Milk?
2. 10 Things To Note When Feeding Your Baby
3. Support Breast Cancer With Pink Glove Dance
4. What Are Stretch Marks?

Author's Bio:
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