What are the benefits of breastfeeding?

[mme_highlight] No water or other foods are needed for the baby until 6 months of age; this is called the “exclusive breast feeding” period. The benefits of breastfeeding are many, making it the healthiest option for your baby: adequate nutrition, protection from infections, lower risk for Sudden Death Syndrome and is a great moment for mother-child bonding. [mme_highlight]

Breast feeding is one of the greatest boons the newborn can get from the mother. The breast milk is the ideal nutrition as it exactly meets the requirements of the baby. The nutrients and benefits can’t be replaced by cow’s milk or any formula feeds. No water or other foods are needed for the baby until 6 months of age and this is called the “Exclusive breast feeding” period. Exclusively breast fed babies are superior in terms of their immune status, growth and overall health.

What is the composition of Breast milk?

To understand why breast milk should be preferred, it is important to know what its content is.

The exact composition of breast milk varies from day to day depending on the food taken by the mother, as well as hormonal and environmental influences.

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Composition of breast milk:

Water – 85 to 90%
Protein – 1%
Fat – 4.5%
Carbohydrates – 7%
Minerals – 0.2%

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Breast milk also contains digestive enzymes, hormones, antibodies, vitamins and lymphocytes from the mother.

A research conducted in the Netherlands including more than 4000 infants was published in the Journal of Paediatrics. It has concluded that babies who were exclusively breastfed for more than 4 months had less probability for developing respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), 1 million infant deaths could be avoided each year if the babies were exclusively breastfed for the period of 6 months.

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the aqueous light yellow fluid, which initially comes out of the breast right after delivery. It is richer in proteins, sodium and vitamins than the normal breast milk. The importance of colostrum is related to the antibodies and immune cells it carries, which help protecting the baby from the first potential pathogens. Thus, it passes a kind of passive immunity to the baby like a vaccine protection the mother transfers to the baby. It is replaced by normal breast milk in 3 to 4 days.

What are the differences between human breast milk and cow’s milk?

The needs of the human baby are different from those of a calf; hence the mother’s milk has the most adequate composition for a baby. A human baby needs less protein and more fat and the cow’s milk contains more protein and almost equal quantity of fat, so it does not supplies adequately human’s need.
It should also be noted that the fat content of cow’s milk is richer in saturated fatty acids whereas that of the human milk is richer in unsaturated fatty acids, which are healthier. Cow’s milk is low in vitamins A, C, D and also poor in iron. Though calcium content is higher in cow’s milk, the calcium contained in human milk is better absorbed by the baby.

What are the differences between human breast milk and Formula feed

Though Formula feed is said to be a better alternative to cow’s milk, when compared to human breast milk it proves to be less adequate. Many working women choose formula feed due to its convenience and greater flexibility or in the cases when mother’s milk production is low in spite of adequate treatment to improve milk production.
Unless a health care provider tells you otherwise or you feel breast feeding cannot be continued for a strong reason, it is not advised to go for an alternative.

Formula feed is prepared with almost similar composition of breast milk with identical amounts of fat, carbohydrate, proteins, minerals and vitamins. However, formula feed lacks antibodies, antiparasites and antiallergens, as well as growth factors and enzymes that are present in Breast milk.

A study by Dukes University’s Medical study centre showed that breast milk is more effective in preventing infections than formula feed.

What are the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby?

Breast milk has the right composition and nutrients which satisfy the thirst and hunger of the baby.
Breast milk has anti infectious properties, as it carries antibodies and immune cells, thus preventing infections.
Breast milk has enzymes which help digestion.
Breastfed babies are less prone to middle ear and respiratory infections or diarrhoea, as bottle feeding is not necessary.
Breastfed babies are healthier and they have less odds to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity later in the life.
Research suggested that breastfed infants have lower risk for Sudden infant death syndrome.
The emotional bonding created between mother and infant helps baby’s growth and brain development.
As breast feeding is available when baby wants, this avoids the hunger cries of the baby.

What are the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother?

Breast feeding is protective against breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Breast feeding helps losing the weight gained during pregnancy.
Breast feeding acts like a natural contraceptive.
The emotional bondage of the mother and baby is strengthened and so the mother feels more confident and happier.
Breast feeding saves money and time.
Mothers who have breastfed have fewer chances to have osteoporosis later in life.

” While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is the best choice for every baby.”
(Amy Spangler)

Summary and Recommendations

During the first 6 months breastfeeding should be the exclusive nutritional source, as it has the complete range of nutrients your baby needs.
The composition of human milk is different from that of cow’s milk; this is the reason why the latter is not adequate for babies during the first year of life.
In comparison to cow’s milk, human’s milk contains less protein and more fat, predominantly unsaturated fatty acids, with high proportion of vitamins A, C, D and also iron.
Although formula milk is similar to human’s milk in terms of composition, it lacks the antibodies and protective immune cells that pass from the mother to child through the milk, reinforcing the immune system of the baby.
The benefits of breastfeeding are many, making it the healthiest option for your baby: adequate nutrition, protection from infections, lower risk for Sudden Death Syndrome and is a great moment for bonding.

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References:

Belitz, H Food Chemistry, 4th Edition, p.501 table 10.5
FSA, 2002. McCance and Widdowson’s The Composition of Foods, 6th summary edition. Cambridge, England, Royal Society of Chemistry.
Hanson, L. A.; Söderström, T. (1981). “Human milk: Defense against infection”. Progress in clinical and biological research 61: 147–159. PMID 6798576.
Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA (1995). “Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants”. J. Pediatr. 126 (5 Pt 1): 696–702. doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(95)70395-0. PMID 7751991.
Blaymore Bier JA, Oliver T, Ferguson A, Vohr BR (2002). “Human milk reduces outpatient upper respiratory symptoms in premature infants during their first year of life”. J Perinatol 22 (5): 354–9. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7210742. PMID 12082468

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