Imagine if there were a food, a single food possessing the perfect nutitional value for your body to function in the most optimal way, with the promise of superior immunity, a lower risk of illness, obesity, chronic disease, allergies, high blood pressure as well as certain forms of cancer? This 'super' food would be easy to obtain, hypoallergenic and free. It may not be available for you right now, but it does exist for your infant and has from the beginning of time. This is, of course, breast milk.
The definition of a mammal is that it can feed its young from its breasts for survival of the species. The body of all mammals, including humans, is designed to manufacture a complete and selectedly individualized diet for that particular offspring. We are always hearing that 'breast is best' but what does the research really tell us. The advantages discussed below have been supported by the research of many professionals. Some of the research is based on exclusively breastfed babies. Even though exclusive breastfeeding and a longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with greater long term health benefits, it is better to breastfeed for a brief period than not at all. Lets break down the benefits for both the child and the mother, beginning with the infant.
Breast milk is species specific. This means that the mother of a baby produces milk which is specifically tailored to the individual needs of that infant. As an example of this, the milk of a goat is designed for the growth and development of that goat and is not suited for the needs of other mammals.
Breast milk is a living tissue containing the perfect compliment of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, including antinfectective components (antibodies), fatty acids including DHA for optimal brain and skeletal growth and development, vitamins and minerals vital to the development of the eye and other organs, as well as enzymes to aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients. The fat and protein content of human milk requires that for optimal growth the newborn infant should remain close to the mother to feed often over the 24 hour period, as much as 8-12 times per 24 hours. This is different in other mammals; for example the milk of a sperm whale is so high in fat that the pup need only feed once in a 24 hour period! The milk contains growth factors that aid in development of the gut which helps to prevent viruses and bacteria from invading. This sealing of the gut discourages foreign proteins from entering the blood which may cause an allergic response. Breastmilk changes as the baby grows and develops and in fact is constantly changing to meet the baby's needs on a given day or month. Indeed the mother of a premature infant will make a milk that is different from the milk produced for a term newborn because the premature baby's nutitional needs differ from the term infant's.It has been referred to as 'designer' milk as there is evidence that the breast can produce an antibody to help protect the infant from an illness to which the mother was exposed. The early milk is called colostrum which is like 'liquid gold' as it is rich immune cells to layer the gastrointestinal tract and protect the infant from illness. There is a small amount of this produced as baby's needs are small in the first couple of days. The colostrum remains but becomes a smaller part of 'mature milk' which evolves days later. Exclusive breastfeeding can be the complete source of a baby's nutrition for at least the first 6 months of life.
Due to the above milk components, there is a decreased risk of illness, including but not limited to ear, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Life long benefits for the child include less diabetes, allergy and asthma, exzema, and high blood pressure. The risk of certain childhood cancer such as leukemia is decreased as well as the risk of chronic illness such as celiac and inflammatory bowel problems. There is a decreased risk of Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) as well. The benefits are particularly important in families for whom these conditions exist genetically.
The physical act of breastfeeding has many benefits as the suck on the breast differs from the suck on the bottle and has the advantage of helping with the formation of the mouth and muscles of the face and jaw. This holds the possibility of a decreased occurance of cavities as well as the need for orthodonture. The skin to skin contact between mother and child has been widely studied and cannot be underestimated as it fosters bonding and attachment which helps the infant adust to life outside the womb. It is soothing and calming to the older infant as well.
The benefits for the mother are significant. Contractions of the uterus during feeding hastens it's return to normal size after pregnancy and is associated with less risk of postpartal vaginal bleeding. Natural child spacing can occur due to a delay in menstruation and ovulation although this cannot be completely relied on as a birth control method. Although this may not be the case for all breastfeeding women, the nursing mother may burn as much as 500 extra calories per day which allows some women to return to prepregnancy weight more quickly. Long term benefits for the mother include but are not limited to a decrease in hypertension, breast and ovarian cancer. The maternal hormones produced help the mother to feel relaxed and bonded. Due to this, there may be a decrease in postpartum depression which is very important to the mother, baby and family unit as a whole.
And if that is not enough...it is free! A study done 10 years ago showed that breastfeeding families could save more than $1200-1500 in the first year not including the cost of bottles, nipples and other accessories. The increased incidence of illness in the infant and child will increase costs for the family, the health care system and the employer as the parent may need to be at home to care for a sick child. Adults who were not breastfed as infants have a higher percentage of many chronic diseases; this greatly adds to the cost of health care.
Lastly, breastfeeding is environmentally friendly; it requires no processing, packaging, preparation or transportation from where it is produced to where it is purchased. It produces no waste or pollution thereby saving the environment and global resources. (It is estimated that for every 1 million babies fed breast milk substitutes 150 million containers are used, some of which end up in landfills.)
As we can see, there are a multitude of reasons that breast is best. The Surgeon General of the United States recognizes the need to elevate the health of the nation and has given public support for breastfeeding. There is currently more help for the breastfeeding family; lactation consultants, insurance coverage and support for the mother returning to work. Let's try to give our babies the best start in life by doing what nature intended for them.
