Question
Why is breastfeeding best?
Answer
Breastfeeding is best for infants, so if you're working with pregnant women, encourage them to breastfeed. If you're working with mothers who already are breastfeeding, support them in what they're doing. It's the best nutrition for infants. The first breast milk that comes after birth is called colostrum, and it may be thick and yellowish, or it may be very thin and watery. It's different for every single mom, but the colostrum, or pre-milk or first milk as some people call it, is very important for babies. It is very rich in nutrients, much more so than the later breast milk. It not only contains nutrients but also includes antibodies. This means that a little of every antibody that the mom has in her milk goes to the baby. This helps to protect the baby in those first few days or weeks of life and gives him a little more immunity against germs and disease, so it's very important. The major ingredients in breast milk are sugar, protein, and fat, but they're all properly balanced for the baby and they're easily digested. Breast milk also contains vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Commercially made formulas are very nutritious and they are a good imitation of breast milk, but they're not the same. One of the most important differences is that formula does not have any of the antibodies or the enzymes that mother's milk has. So again, encourage moms to breastfeed. There are other benefits to breastfeeding.
- It has antibodies in it, so it helps to fight infection.
- The enzymes and the balance of it promotes digestion.
- It is usually less expensive than formula.
- It is convenient.
- It is bacteria-free because it's coming straight from the mom.
- When the mother is breastfeeding, it's promoting nurturing and bonding with skin-to-skin contact that is so soothing for both the baby and the mom.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from a course entitled, Feeding Infants, by Charlotte Hendricks, PhD.
