Why World Breastfeeding Week
August 1 to 7 is the World Breastfeeding Week, a week set aide the world over to draw attention to the importance and benefits of breastfeeding. The theme for this year is “Breastfeeding support: close to mothers”
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The objectives for this year include ;
• To draw attention to the importance of peer support in helping mothers to establish and sustain breastfeeding.
• To inform people of the highly effective benefits of peer counseling and unite efforts to expand peer counseling programmes.
• To encourage breastfeeding supporters, regardless of their educational background, to step forward and be trained to support mothers and babies.
• To identify local community support contacts for breastfeeding mothers that women can go for help and support after delivery.
• To call on government and maternity facilities globally to actively implement the10 steps, particularly step 10, to improve duration and rates of exclusive breastfeeding.
Since I don’t know of any events held to highlight this important week especially, in the peer counselling activities, I have dedicated my column to extol some of the benefits of breastmilk.
Human breast milk refers to the milk produced by a mother to feed her baby. It provides the primary source of nutrition for newborn babies before they are able to eat and digest other foods.
During the first few days after delivery, the breast produce colostrum. This is a thin yellowish fluid which is the same fluid that leaks from the breasts during pregnancy.
It is rich in protein and antibodies that provide passive immunity to the baby (the baby's immune system is not fully developed at birth).
Colostrum also helps the newborn babies digestive system to grow and function properly. This obviously makes invalid the assertion that the colostrums is a dirty milk and does not need to be given to the child.
The breastmilk changes and increases in quantity about 48 to 72 hours after delivery. It may take longer depending on when breastfeeding is started and how often breastfeed is done.
The change in milk occurs a little earlier if you have breastfed before. Besides the colostrum, there are also:
Foremilk
When first starting to breastfeed, the first milk the baby receives is called foremilk. It is thin and watery with a light blue tinge. Foremilk is largely water needed to satisfy the baby’s thirst.
Hind-milk
Hind-milk is released after several minutes of nursing. It is similar in texture to cream, and has the highest concentration of fat. The hind-milk has a relaxing effect on the baby, it also helps the baby to feel satisfied and contributes to the child gaining weight.
To help us understand the importance of breastfeeding, just consider the following facts;
Protein in breast milk is mostly whey, which is easier to digest than casein (main protein in cow's milk). Protein of breast milk has high amounts of amino acid taurine, which has an important role in the development of the brain and the eyes.
Fats in breast milk are practically self-digesting, since breast milk also contains lipase, an enzyme responsible for the digestion of fat.
Fat is the main source of calories for babies - and babies need a lots of calories to grow well, Also, fat in human milk has large amounts of certain essential fatty acids such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain development.
Vitamins and minerals in human milk are bioavailable - meaning they get absorbed well. Breast milk contains substances that enhance the absorption of minerals and vitamins.
DNA
Breast milk has been shown to affect an infant's gene expression. Breast milk and formula have different effects on at least 146 genes.
Most of the genes enhanced by breast milk promote quick development of the intestine and immune system. For instance, some of the genes positively affected by breast milk protect against "leaky gut".
Immune boosters in each feeding, the mother delivers millions of living white blood cells to the baby to help fight diseases. This will not be found in formula!
Also, when mother is exposed to germs, she makes antibodies to that germ and gives these antibodies to the infant via the breast milk.
Breast milk also contains factors that prevent microbes from attaching, and a long list of other antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic factors.
Even more amazing, if a baby contracts an illness that the mother has not been exposed to previously, he would transfer this organisms through his saliva to the breast, where antibodies are manufactured on site and then sent back to the baby via the milk to help him cope.
Hormones and enzymes.
Breast milk has lots of digestive enzymes, and also many hormones. All these contribute to the baby's well being.
Every year scientists find more valuable substances in breast milk.
Science is only beginning to understand what is in the human milk that help in a baby's growth and development.
Breastfeeding prevents obesity.
Formula-fed babies are more likely to be obese during adolescence. Longer periods of breastfeeding greatly reduce the risk of being overweight in adulthood.
Healthy teeth.
Formula-fed babies have worse jaw alignment and are more likely to need orthodontic work as they get older.
This is probably because the sucking action during breastfeeding improves the development of facial muscles and the shape of the palate.
Healthy eyes and ears:
Bottle fed babies have worse vision, and get more ear infections than breast-fed infants.
General health:
Bottle-fed infants and children have more and severe upper respiratory infections, wheezing, pneumonia and influenza.
They have more diarrhoea, more gastrointestinal infections and constipation.
Health later in life:
Formula-fed babies have a risk of heart disease, juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma and allergy.
Breastfeeding may also play a role in preventing digestive diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, as well as childhood cancers.
If you give your infant the unique food designed for it by Jehovah, his or her body will function in a healthier way in all aspects.