Breastfeeding
is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk
directly from a woman's breasts, not from a baby bottle or other
container.
Breastfeeding is often an enjoyable and rewarding experience
for mothers. A breastfeeding mother must continue to take care
of her baby and herself, as she did during her pregnancy.
Breast milk usually refers to the milk produced by a human female
which is usually fed to infants, toddlers, and young children
by breastfeeding. It provides the primary source of nutrition
for newborns before they are able to eat solid food and digest
a wider variety of food. Breast milk is fed to the infant by
a variety of methods: breastfeeding, baby bottle, cup and/or
spoon, supplementation drip system, and nasogastric tube.
Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow
milk. It is possible for most mothers to nourish their infant
(or infants in the case of twins and multiple births) by breastfeeding
for the first sixteen months, if not longer, without the supplement
of infant formula milk or solid food.
Breast feeding by the mother to her new born infant is greatly
beneficial as science had proven, and it is mandatory in the
Noble Quran. Allah Almighty Commanded the mother to breast feed
her child for two full years:
"The mothers shall give such to their offspring for two
whole years, if the father desires to complete the term. But
he shall bear the cost of their food and clothing on equitable
terms. No soul shall have a burden laid on it greater than it
can bear. No mother shall be Treated unfairly on account of
her child. Nor father on account of his child, an heir shall
be chargeable in the same way. If they both decide on weaning,
by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no blame
on them. If ye decide on a foster-mother for your offspring,
there is no blame on you, provided ye pay (the mother) what
ye offered, on equitable terms. But fear God and know that God
sees well what ye do. (The Noble Quran, 2:233)"
Composition of breast milk
The exact integrated properties of breast
milk are not entirely understood, but the nutrient content after
this period is relatively consistent and draws its ingredients
from the mother's food supply. If that supply is found lacking,
content is obtained from the mother's bodily stores. The exact
composition of breast milk varies from day to day, depending
on food consumption and environment, meaning that the ratio
of water to fat fluctuates. Foremilk, the milk released at the
beginning of a feed, is watery, low in fat and high in carbohydrates
relative to the creamier hindmilk which is released as the feed
progresses. The breast can never be truly "emptied"
since milk production is a continuous biological process.
Human milk contains 0.8% to 0.9% protein, 3% to 5% fat, 6.9%
to 7.2% carbohydrates and 0.2% ash (minerals). Carbohydrates
are mainly lactose; several lactose-based oligosaccharides have
been identified as minor components. The principal proteins
are casein homologous to bovine beta casein, alpha lactalbumin,
lactoferrin, lysozyme and serum albumin. Non-protein nitrogen-containing
compounds, making up 25% of the milk's nitrogen, include urea,
uric acid, creatine, creatinine, amino acids and nucleotides.
Mother's milk has been shown to supply a type of endocannabinoid
(the natural neurotransmitters which marijuana simulates), Arachidonoyl
glycerol.
Though now it is almost universally prescribed, in the 1950s
the practice of breastfeeding went through a period where it
was out of vogue and the use of infant formula was considered
superior to breast milk.
However, today it is now recognized that there is no commercial
formula that can equal breast milk. In addition to the appropriate
amounts of carbohydrate, protein and fat, breast milk also provides
vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and hormones - all of
the things that a growing infant will require. Breast milk also
contains antibodies from the mother that may help the baby to
resist infections.
A baby bottle is a bottle with a teat
to drink directly from. It is typically used when a mother does
not breastfeed, or if someone can not (as conveniently) drink
from a cup, for feeding oneself or being fed.
In particular it is used to feed an infant with infant formula,
expressed breast milk or pediatric electrolyte solution.
Benefits for the infant
During breastfeeding nutrients and antibodies pass to the baby
and the maternal bond can also be strengthened. There is a variety
of benefits to breastfeeding an infant. These include:
Less Atopy : In children who are at risk for atopy (defined
as at least one parent or sibling having atopy), atopic syndrome
can be prevented or delayed through exclusive breastfeeding
for four months, though these benefits may not be present after
four months of age. However, the key factor may be the age at
which non-breastmilk is introduced rather than duration of breastfeeding.
Atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, can be reduced
through exclusive breastfeeding beyond 12 weeks in individuals
with a family history of atopy, but when breastfeeding beyond
12 weeks is combined with other foods incidents of eczema rise
irrespective of family history.
Less Diabetes mellitus: Infants exclusively
breastfed have less chance of developing diabetes mellitus type
1 than peers with a shorter duration of breastfeeding and an
earlier exposure to cow milk and solid foods. Breastfeeding
also appears to protect against diabetes mellitus type 2,at
least in part due to its effects on the child's weight. As we
can see our children know days in somalia.
Less Diarrhea: Breastfeeding protects infants
against diarrhea as compared to formula-fed peers; compared
to formula-fed peers, death rates due to diarrhea in breastfed
infants are lower irrespective of the development level of the
country.
Greater immune health: Breast milk include several anti-infective
factors such as bile salt stimulated lipase (protecting against
amoebic infections), lactoferrin (which binds to iron and inhibits
the growth of intestinal bacteria) and immunoglobulin A protecting
against microorganisms.
Despite also being a factor in the transmission of HIV from
mother to child, some constituents in Breast milk may be protective
of infection. In particular, high levels of certain polyunsaturated
fatty acids in breastmilk (including eicosadienoic, arachidonic
and gamma-Linolenic acids) are associated with a reduced risk
of child infection when nursed by HIV-positive mothers. Arachidonic
acid and gamma-linolenic acid may also reduce viral shedding
of the HIV virus in Breast milk. Breastfeeding does not appear
to offer protection against allergies.
Higher Intelligence: Babies with a specific variant of the FADS2
gene (approximately 90% of all babies) demonstrate an IQ an
average of 7 points higher if breastfed.
Less necrotizing enterocolitis: Necrotizing
enterocolitis (NC), found mainly in premature births, is six
to ten times more common in infants fed formula exclusively,
and three times more common in infants fed a mixture of breast
milk and formula, as compared to exclusive breastfeeding. In
infants born at more than 30 weeks, NC was twenty times more
common in infants fed exclusively on formula.
Superior nutrition: Breast milk contains the
ideal ratio of the amino acids cystine, methionine, and taurine
to support development of the central and peripheral nervous
system. Children aged seven and eight years old who were of
low birthweight who were breastfed for more than eight months
demonstrated significantly higher intelligence quotient scores
than comparable children breastfed for less time, suggesting
breastfeeding offers long-term cognitive benefits in some populations.
The quality of a mother's breast milk
may be compromised by stress, bad food habits, chronic illnesses,smoking,
and drinking.If the mother is heavily subjected to any of above
factors, additional resources in particular for protein must
be found. A ration must contain a heavy percentage of protein.
Protein is the building block for nerves and bones. To make
brain, bone and tissue, the baby must be given protein. And
from two days old to at least three years. That makes strong,
pretty, alert babies that sleep well and do well.
Less obesity: Breastfeeding appears to reduce
the risk of extreme obesity in children aged 39 to 42 months.The
protective effect of breastfeeding against obesity is consistent,
though small, across many studies, and appears to increase with
the duration of breastfeeding.
Fewer middle ear infections: creased duration
of certain types of middle ear infections (otitis media with
effusion, OME) in the first two years of life is associated
with a shorter period of breastfeeding, in addition to feeding
while lying down and maternal cigarette smoking. A reduced proportion
and duration of any otitis media infection was associated with
breastfeeding rather than formula feeding for the first twelve
months of life.
Fewer respiratory infections: breastfeeding
appears to reduce symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections
in premature infants up to seven months after release from hospital.
Possible protection from sudden infant death syndrome: breastfed
babies have improved arousal from sleep, which may reduce the
risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Fewer urinary tract infections: breastfeeding
reduced the risk of acquiring urinary tract infections in infants
up to seven months post-partum. The protection was strongest
immediately after birth, and was ineffective past seven months.
Benefits for mothers
Breast cancer: breastfeeding mothers have less
risk of endometrial, breast and ovarian cancer,and osteoporosis.
Mothers who breastfeed longer than eight months also benefit
from bone re-mineralisation and breastfeeding diabetic mothers
require less insulin.Breastfeeding helps stabilize maternal
endometriosis, reduces the risk of post-partum bleeding and
benefits the insulin levels for mothers with polycystic ovary
syndrome.
Some breastfeeding women have pain from candidiasisor staphylococcus
infections of the nipple though these can be managed with medical
attention with little concern for mother and child.
Arthritis: women who breast feed for longer
have a smaller chance of getting rheumatoid arthritis, which
are suspected to protect against the disease because they contain
hormones that are raised in pregnancy, did not have the same
effect. Simply having children but not breast feeding also did
not seem to be protective.
Bonding :the hormones released during breastfeeding
strengthen the maternal bond. Teaching partners how to manage
common difficulties is associated with higher breastfeeding
rates. Support for a mother while breastfeeding can assist in
familial bonds and help build a paternal bond between father
and child.
If the mother is away, an alternative caregiver may be able
to feed the baby with expressed breast milk. The various breast
pumps available for sale and rent help working mothers to feed
their babies breast milk for as long as they want. To be successful,
the mother must produce and store enough milk to feed the child
for the time she is away, and the feeding caregiver must be
comfortable in handling breast milk.
Hormone release :breastfeeding releases the
hormones oxytocin and prolactin which relax the mother and make
her feel more nurturing toward her baby. Breastfeeding soon
after giving birth increases the mother's oxytocin levels, making
her uterus contract more quickly and reducing bleeding. Oxytocin
is similar to pitocin, a synthetic hormone used to make the
uterus contract.
Weight loss: As fat
accumulated during pregnancy is used to produce milk, extended
breastfeeding at least 6 months can help mothers lose weight.
However, weight loss is highly variable among lactating women,
and diet and exercise is a more reliable way of losing weight.
Please Send your Question and Comments
through: xogsanmagazine@yahoo.com or xogsanmagazine@gmail.com
By Amina Abdulkadir Arale
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