THE BENEFITS OF BREASTMILK AND BREASTFEEDING
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTMILK AND BREASTFEEDING
Breastmilk is much more than simply nutrition – it is a unique and complex fluid containing well over a hundred documented constituents. Many scientific papers examining its biochemical properties have been written and so many discoveries about its properties are constantly being made that it is difficult to keep up with them all. Breastmilk is considered to be a “living fluid”, for in addition to its nutrient content it contains antibacterial, antiviral, anti-infective and antiparasitic factors, as well as hormones, enzymes, specialized growth factors and immunological properties.
The benefits of breastmilk and of breastfeeding are many. On a global level it significantly reduces infant and childhood morbidity and mortality, and probably contributes far more to the health and wellbeing of a nation than perhaps is realized or acknowledged. It is shocking to realize that, according to the World Health Organization, ‘as many as 10% of all deaths of children under five could be prevented by a modest increase in the breastfeeding rate worldwide’. Consider the following global statistics. Babies who do not breastfeed:
Are at least two and a half times more likely to suffer an episode of illness
In their first year of life are up to three times more likely to die from respiratory infection compared with babies who are exclusively breastfed.
Babies who do not exclusively breastfeed:
Are up to 25 times more likely to die from diarrhea in the first 6 months of life
Babies who receive formula milk:
Particularly if they are preterm, are 6-10 times more likely to develop the potentially fatal gut condition known as necrotizing enterocolitis, if given only formula milk and not given breastmilk as the first enteral feed
Are twice more likely to suffer from acute otitis media compared with babies who are exclusively breastfed.
Note that exclusive breastfeeding is when the baby receives all his nutrition at his mother’s breast;
Breastmilk is much more than simply nutrition – it is a unique and complex fluid containing well over a hundred documented constituents. Many scientific papers examining its biochemical properties have been written and so many discoveries about its properties are constantly being made that it is difficult to keep up with them all. Breastmilk is considered to be a “living fluid”, for in addition to its nutrient content it contains antibacterial, antiviral, anti-infective and antiparasitic factors, as well as hormones, enzymes, specialized growth factors and immunological properties.
The benefits of breastmilk and of breastfeeding are many. On a global level it significantly reduces infant and childhood morbidity and mortality, and probably contributes far more to the health and wellbeing of a nation than perhaps is realized or acknowledged. It is shocking to realize that, according to the World Health Organization, ‘as many as 10% of all deaths of children under five could be prevented by a modest increase in the breastfeeding rate worldwide’. Consider the following global statistics. Babies who do not breastfeed:
Are at least two and a half times more likely to suffer an episode of illness
In their first year of life are up to three times more likely to die from respiratory infection compared with babies who are exclusively breastfed.
Babies who do not exclusively breastfeed:
Are up to 25 times more likely to die from diarrhea in the first 6 months of life
Babies who receive formula milk:
Particularly if they are preterm, are 6-10 times more likely to develop the potentially fatal gut condition known as necrotizing enterocolitis, if given only formula milk and not given breastmilk as the first enteral feed
Are twice more likely to suffer from acute otitis media compared with babies who are exclusively breastfed.
Note that exclusive breastfeeding is when the baby receives all his nutrition at his mother’s breast;