Moms, you must know this by now: Breastmilk is unanimously advocated by health experts and professionals around the world as best for your baby.
But there are many other things about breastmilk that perhaps you didn’t know, which we’d like to tell you about. You’re bound to find these facts absolutely fascinating!
What can you read in this article?
- What is exclusive breastfeeding and its importance
- Benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby
- Breast milk vs formula milk
What is exclusive breastfeeding
The Department of Health defined exclusive breastfeeding as “giving a baby only breast milk, and no other liquids or solids, not even water.”
Breastfeeding is an optimal way to appropriate nutrition for infants’ healthy growth and development. It is also a crucial element of the reproductive process, with significant implications for mothers’ health.
According to research, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the best approach to feed infants on a population basis. Following that, infants should be fed complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed until they are two years old or older.
Importance of exclusive breastfeeding
Breast milk is a baby’s natural first food; it provides all of the energy and nutrients the infant requires during the first few months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third of a child’s nutritional needs during the second year.
Breast milk improves sensory and cognitive development in babies, as well as protects them from viral and chronic disorders. Breastfeeding exclusively reduces infant mortality from common childhood illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia, and aids in faster recovery.
This is breastmilk from the same mum – the milk on the right was produced when her child was sick. It turned golden, almost colostrum-like, in order to help fight her baby’s infection!
Benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby
Breastfeeding benefits mothers’ health and well-being; it helps to space children, lowers the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, boosts family and national resources, is a secure method of feeding, and is environmentally friendly.
1. Breastmilk can potentially cure cancer
A Swedish professor and her team have found out after decades of research that a special protein in breastmilk has the ability to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells!
They named this amazing protein HAMLET and are currently trying to get it developed as a new cancer-fighting drug.
2. Breastmilk can ‘sense’ when your baby is sick
Your body has the ability to alter the nutritional and immunological composition of your breastmilk depending on your baby’s need at that moment.
According to biologist Katie Hinde, a nursing baby creates a vacuum with its suckling that causes its saliva to be sucked back into the mother’s nipple.
The receptors in the mammary glands then translate the information picked up from the “baby spit backwash”, which it then uses to adjust the breast milk’s immunological composition.
3. On hot days, your breastmilk automatically becomes more ‘watery’
As it is, breastmilk is made up of 88% water, satisfying your baby’s hydration needs in general and making giving water to a fully breastfed baby under the age of six months unnecessary.
But on very hot days, research shows that it is still unnecessary to give a nursing infant water as your breastmilk still quenches his thirst perfectly well. You only need to increase the frequency of nursing.
4. Breastmilk can fight bacteria
Earlier this year, Vicki Greene, a first-year bioscience student at South Devon College in the U.K., put breast milk from the mother of a 15-month-old and a 3-year-old in Petri dishes containing the bacteria M. Luteus.
A photo of the experiment on Facebook clearly shows a space between the breastmilk and the bacteria – like a wall – keeping the bacteria from getting too close to the breastmilk. Greene said she “used the experiment as a way to showcase that breastmilk’s antimicrobial properties may persist well beyond the age many end breastfeeding.”
5. Breastmilk cures acne
Acne solutions don’t get any cheaper or more effective than this!
According to the results of a study conducted by a team at the University of California, the lauric acid found in breastmilk can help treat acne. It’s as simple as applying breastmilk over the affected area and letting it air-dry.
6. It’s a natural pain-relief medication
When a baby is crying, they almost always immediately calm down when on the breast.
This is partly to do with the physical comfort they get from being snuggled close to you – your warmth, touch, and scent.
But breastmilk also contains endorphins, which, from a physiological level, help ease pain in the human body.
7. It’s the perfect pre-term baby milk
For mums who give birth to delicate little preemies, nutrition could be a worry. However, if you are such a mum, did you know that your breastmilk once again changes to provide optimum nutrition for your premature baby’s needs?
According to research, “human milk from women delivering prematurely has more protein and higher levels of many bioactive molecules compared to milk from women delivering at term.”
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Breastfeeding vs formula feeding advantages disadvantages
There’s no need for water for babies under the age of 6 months who are exclusively breastfed. Just increase the frequency of your feeds.
According to the Department of Health Administrative Order 2005-014 or the National Policies on Infant and Young Child Feeding, infants should be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their lives.
“Exclusive breastfeeding means giving breastmilk alone and no other foods or drinks, not even water, with the exception of vitamins and medicine drops.
Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production.
The conclusion of experts in their systematic review of the optimal duration of breastfeeding that there was no observable deficits in growth for infants exclusively breastfed for 6 or more months.
In addition, this also reduces morbidity due to gastro-intestinal infections and their others are more likely to remain amenorrheic for six months postpartum.”
However, this article in no way attempts to undermine those mums who cannot breastfeed for whatever reason. We understand, and we support you too.
Breastmilk vs formula milk
Breast milk benefits your newborn in a variety of ways:
- It may reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in your baby’s first year of life.
- It’s typically easier to digest than formula. As a result, breastfed babies are less likely to be constipated or gassy.
- Protein, carbs, lipids, and calcium are all in the right proportions in this formula for your infant.
- It contains natural antibodies that aid in the prevention of ailments such as ear infections in your infant.
- Breast milk may also benefit your child later in life by lowering the risk of obesity, asthma, allergies, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, and lymphoma.
- It has the potential to improve your child’s IQ. Breastfed babies have superior cognitive performance, according to studies.
- It is available at all times and is completely free.
Of course, we support mother who cannot breastfeed for whatever reason. Feeding your kid with formula milk does not in any way make you a bad mother.
- It allows flexibility. Pumping does not have to be a part of your workday. You can finish all your tasks and responsibilities while ensuring that your baby is well-fed.
- It’s practical. Anyone can feed formula-fed babies at any time.
- Your partner can assist with overnight feedings (or when you’re not around) and bond with your baby.
- Feedings could be more easily scheduled. Because the formula isn’t as quickly absorbed as breast milk, formula-fed newborns don’t need to feed as frequently, especially in the first few months.
Others will undoubtedly have an opinion on whatever you decide. The only thing that matters is which option is best for you and your kid. And no one else knows but YOU! So do you, mom! We hear you and we support you!
Share your thoughts on this article in a comment below. In what ways has breastfeeding amazed you?