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
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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.
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