Promoting the Health of Mother and New Born Through Breastfeeding

By:  K Lootawn & Dr Betty Long

Wow! What a pregnancy and birthing experience you’ve had. Now as you look down on that new born cuddled in your arms, you realize that you are responsible for keeping this precious little person safe and healthy. As you continue to read, you will receive revealing information for keeping your baby healthy and happy.
One of the most important areas to consider is infant nutrition and feeding. You baby can only be healthy if he/she is well nourished, please note, well nourished, not over nourished which can result from the actions of  exuberant parents. The gold standard for infant nutrition is breast milk. Breast feeding ensures that your baby is adequately nourished, and contributes greatly to maintaining the baby’s health and wellness. Breast feeding is of economic value not just to the parents but also the society as a whole.
Why is breast milk the gold standard, you ask? Many scientific studies have proven that breast milk, also called liquid gold, changes in consistency to suit the nutritional needs of a growing baby. At birth, colostrum, the “first milk”, contains all the fats, protein, nutrients and water that a new born baby needs. It is produced in small amounts that are just enough to satisfy a newborn’s tiny stomach. As the baby grows and breast feeding continues the breast milk also changes to suit the baby’s needs. Protein, fat and other nutrient content are automatically adjusted by the body to suit the age of the baby. Breast milk is species specific (i.e. human milk for human babies), and has many benefits to the baby. It is rich in nutrients, contains much needed growth factors, enzymes and hormones.
Notably, it is also the first form of immunization as it contains protective agents such as antibodies, enzymes and leukocytes (white blood cells) that protect the baby against certain disease conditions for the first three months of life.  For this reason it has been referred to as “white blood” and living tissue. The fatty acids and lactoferrins, (iron-binding proteins that prevents harmful micro-organisms form using up iron in the body), in the breast milk render protection against a broad spectrum of organisms, while oligosaccharides and glycol-conjugates (carbon-based compounds) offer specific protection against certain harmful bacteria by supporting the growth of good intestinal bacteria that fight against harmful ones. Breast milk which is easy to digest when compared to artificial formulas protects the baby’s young bowels from conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis (death of intestinal tissue). Studies have also linked breast milk to a decreased incidence of childhood obesity, asthma, lower respiratory tract infections, leukemia and atopic dermatitis. There is no risk of burns and scalds to the infant’s mouth because breast milk is always at the right temperature when baby is suckling.
Did you know that breast feeding also creates a physio-psychological, emotional bond between parent and child? This bond gives the child a feeling of comfort and security that impact positively on the baby’s emotional wellness. Therefore, it can be concluded that breast feeding and breast milk promote the physical, psychological and emotional health of the baby. Happy healthy babies, what more could you ask for?
A new mother can use the whole breast feeding experience to maintain her health and wellness as well. As the baby suckles, a hormone called oxytocin is released from the mother’s pituitary gland and circulates through the body. This hormone stimulates the uterus (womb) to contract and stimulates the ejection of milk from the breast. Continued breastfeeding helps the uterus to return to the non-pregnant state quickly, thereby preventing post partum hemorrhage. Exclusive breastfeeding can result in a state of amenorrhea which can serve two purposes. First, it prevents the loss of iron from menstrual bleeding, and secondly, it acts as a form of natural contraceptive allowing time for spacing of pregnancies.
In addition, the bond that is created between mother and baby has been linked to a decreased incidence of post partum depression.  Breastfeeding is easier on the mother and needs almost no preparation time. This allows mothers to get much needed rest after labor and delivery. Additionally, because it is free, it facilitates the saving of much needed finances, resulting in a decrease in financial and psychological stress that has been noted in some households that choose to formula feed.
A link has been established between breastfeeding and a decreased risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and Type II diabetes. However women are advised to couple this with proper nutrition, rest and exercise. Most societies promote going green in their health promotion campaigns, breast feeding is totally green. With breast feeding there is a significant reduction in garbage - no empty containers or cartoons, to dispose of. It may seem negligible but there is a real reduced cost of disposal or recycling of tins and plastics on the economy and the environment.  Thus, health for all is quietly being promoted.

References
Riordan, J. 2002. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Jones and Bartlett Publishers
Dermer, A. 2001. A Well-Kept Secret Breast feeding Benefits to Mothers. New Beginnings, 18:4
Office of Women’s Health. Why Breast Feeding Is Important. Retrieved on 21/4/14 from: https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/