Breastmilk: An Infant’s First Supply Of Antioxidants
Introduction
For new-borns, breastmilk is the best food. It contains antibodies that aid in preventing several common childhood illnesses. It is secure and hygienic. Breastmilk provides all necessary nutrients and antioxidants that the infant need for the first few months of life and continues to supply up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year of life and up to one-third during the second year of life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months, then continue to do so while consuming complementary foods until they are two years old or older.
Why Breastfeeding Is Important For The Baby?
Children who are breastfed score higher on IQ tests
They are less likely to become overweight or obese and are less likely to develop diabetes in the future.
It is the child’s first nutrition.
Breastfeeding helps reduce disease risk. Breast milk is loaded with antibodies that prevent babies from viruses and bacteria, which is critical in those tender, early months.
Colostrum, the child’s first milk provides high amounts of immunoglobulin A (IgA), as well as several other antibodies.
Breastfeeding promotes the baby’s healthy weight.
Why Breastfeeding Is Important For The Mother?
Breast and ovarian cancer risks are lower for women who breastfeed.
It saves time and is economic.
Breastfeeding burns calories and thus helps reduce postpartum weight.
Helps in developing emotional attachment with the baby
It prevents ovulation and menstruation so the mother and enjoys precious time with the new-born.
Why Breastfeeding Is Important For The Environment?
Breastfeeding has no waste, so it is good for the environment.
It is always at the right temperature, safe, clean, and free.
Exclusive Breastfeeding And Its Importance
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) as the practice of a baby receiving only breast milk from his or her mother or a wet nurse for the first six months of life without mixing it with any other liquids, food, tea, or herbal remedies— except for vitamins, minerals supplements, and medications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months, then continue to do so while consuming complementary foods until they are two years old or older.
In addition to many other advantages, exclusively breastfeeding a baby for the first six months of life lowers the risk of gastrointestinal infections, pneumonia, otitis media, and urinary tract infections in the child while also allowing mothers to quickly regain their pre-pregnancy weight and reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Composition Of Breastmilk
- Human milk is unique and superior to any other breast milk substitute. It is species-specific and its nutritional composition varies from mother to mother, during day to day, and during a feed. There are three phases of breastmilk namely colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk.
1. Colostrum
- The first milk our body produces during pregnancy is called colostrum (Kuh-loss-trum). It develops in mammary glands (breasts) and is crucial for strengthening the child’s immune system. It’s the first milk a mother will receive from her breasts if she decides to breastfeed. It has a lot of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antibodies called immunoglobulins that support the development of your baby’s immune system. Considering bringing its tremendous advantages and rich, golden colour, it is frequently referred to as “liquid gold.”
2. Advantages Of Colostrum
- Anti-infective properties.
- First natural immunization of the baby.
- Prevents infections and the development of allergies.
- It is a milk laxative, effect on child’s gut.
- Contains growth factors.
- Rich in Vitamin A.
- The total antioxidant capacity of Breastmilk seems to be higher in colostrum compared to mature and transitional milk.
3. Transitional Milk
- Transitional milk is produced when mature breast milk gradually replaces colostrum. It is secreted between two and five days and up to two weeks following delivery. In comparison to colostrum, transitional milk contains more fat and lactose, a natural sugar that offers the baby energy.
4. Mature Milk
- In most women, mature milk starts to appear near the end of the second week following delivery. It is generated in the same volume as transitional milk but is thinner, waterier, or even bluish. It looks like skim milk when it is first secreted, until the fat is released later in the feeding, and it becomes creamier.
Pre-Lacteal Feeding Practices And Their Associated Risk Factors For The Mother And The Child
- Pre-lacteal feeding is defined as the administration of any substances other than breast milk to newborn babies during the first 3 days after birth. Despite its negative health outcomes, it is commonly practiced in developing countries. It is a ritual and a tradition practiced in India. All Pre-lacteal feeds like ghutti, gripe water, honey, glucose water, and animal milk is considered harmful, as they may lead to diarrhoea and other infections in the newborn. Introduction to prolateral feeds not only delays breastfeeding but also prevents the infant from receiving colostrum and hinders the development of good lactation.
Myths And Taboos Associated With Breastfeeding
- Moms don’t produce enough milk to feed their baby – FALSE
A mother will be able to feed her baby if she breastfeeds frequently and for as long as the infant desires at each feed. The mother’s body is still making milk even though it doesn’t seem like it is. No need to be concerned!
- Colostrum is not good milk– FALSE
People think that colostrum is filthy, heavy, dangerous, and gives babies indigestion. Therefore, it should be discarded. People think that “colostrum” collects in the breast during pregnancy and should not be given to the new-born since it is stale and out of date. Whereas it is only created for the first few days after childbirth. It is highly nutritious, advantageous, and easily digestible, and should be fed to the child.
- “When it’s hot outside, breast-fed babies need to drink water”– FALSE
This is untrue—breast milk carries enough water, especially in warm conditions, to keep the baby hydrated. The infant controls his or her own intake and increases milk consumption in warm weather.
- If the child is sick, stop breastfeeding. – FALSE
The best thing you can do for a new-born is to encourage the mother to keep breastfeeding because it contains vital vitamins, nutrients, and antibodies that support the immune system of the infant.
- “Mothers should wait three days before beginning to breastfeed”– FALSE
Colostrum’s reputation as “filthy milk” rather than “excellent for lactation” led to the development of this myth. Contrarily, the healthiest way to begin a breastfeeding is with colostrum.
- “Premature babies should be bottle-fed”– FALSE
Although it may take premature new-borns a little longer to become used to breastfeeding than full-term babies, doing so is significantly better for them because breastmilk includes all the nutrients a baby needs to grow and thrive.
- No nursing is permitted following a caesarean delivery– FALSE
A widespread misconception is that one shouldn’t breastfeed following a caesarean delivery due to the risk of stitches opening. However, this is untrue, and a mother can and should breastfeed her infant right away following the procedure.
- Breastfeeding is more difficult than bottle feeding– FALSE
This idea is incorrect. In many ways, breastfeeding is simpler and less of a burden than bottle feeding; it also eliminates the need for bottles and is free; in contrast, formula milk is highly expensive.
Breastmilk Production And Secretion
Milk production in the breasts involves the roll of two hormones: prolactin and oxytocin.
Prolactin: for the production of milk
Oxytocin: for letting the milk out (ejecting milk).
In addition to these two primary hormones, other hormones, such as oestrogen, are also indirectly involved in the process of lactation. When a baby suckles the mother’s breast, sensory impulses pass from her nipple to her brain. In response to these impulses, the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland secretes prolactin, and the posterior lobe secretes oxytocin.
1. Prolactin
The amount of prolactin in a pregnant woman’s blood rises significantly. The development of the mammary tissue in preparation to produce milk is stimulated by this rise in prolactin levels.
- Milk, however, does not get secreted during the pregnancy, because of the hormones, namely progesterone and estrogen. They block prolactin from performing its job. However, upon delivery, progesterone and oestrogen levels rapidly decline, prolactin is no longer inhibited, and milk secretion starts. When a baby sucks, prolactin levels rise in the blood. The alveoli are stimulated to produce more milk by these increased levels. More prolactin is generated and, as a result, more milk is produced when a baby sucks and stimulates the nipple more. The establishment of lactation is the moment when this effect is particularly crucial.
2. Oxytocin
Sensory signals from the mother’s nipples are sent to the infant’s brain when she makes the baby suckle. The hormone oxytocin is secreted by the pituitary gland in response to sensory signals, and it is generated more quickly than the hormone prolactin. Oxytocin then enters the bloodstream, travels to the breasts, and causes the myoepithelial cells surrounding the alveoli to contract.
For the current feed, the milk that is already in the breasts begins to flow from the alveoli along the ducts to the bigger ducts beneath the areola because of the cells’ contraction. Thus, the milk is only discharged for the present feed. The term “oxytocin reflex” or “milk ejection reflex” or “let-down reflex” refers to the entire phenomenon, which starts with sucking and ends with the milk being let down (ejected) from the milk ducts. Therefore, prolactin and oxytocin are effective for the same feed.
Antioxidants: An Important Part Of Diet For Infants
- Antioxidant qualities are found in human milk. In addition to superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, it also contains vitamins C and E. They are known to protect against the potentially harmful effects of oxidative stress. Due to the transition from the comparatively low-oxygen intrauterine environment to the high-oxygen extrauterine atmosphere, birth poses a considerable oxidative challenge. As a result, throughout the birth and the transition to neonatal life, babies are exposed to more Reactive Oxygen Species ROS. Moreover, preterm babies interfere with the antioxidant systems’ natural developmental upregulation. Preterm neonates exhibit higher levels of oxidative stress than full-term newborns, which is a significant component in the progression of perinatal morbidities of prematurity. There is evidence that premature neonates nourished with Breastmilk experience less oxidative stress indicators compared to the infants that were fed formula.
Effect Of Storage Of Antioxidants Present In Breastmilk
Antioxidants and other immunological and nutritional qualities of Breastmilk may be diminished by pasteurization procedures and storage conditions. For instance, vitamins, lactoferrin, and lipases are less concentrated when food is refrigerated. As a result, it is not suggested for Breastmilk. Expressed breastmilk should be well stored and donated breastmilk should be pasteurized and frozen even though these treatments change the beneficial components.
- There are various circumstances in which a mother is unable to breastfeed and thus can express her breast milk and feed the infant with the aid of a Katori or a cup:
- Feeding a sick or low birthweight infant
- Relieving a breast that is engorged
- Opening up clogged ducts.
- Keeping the mother’s milk production steady while she is unwell
- Stopping breast leaks
- Giving the baby milk when the mother leaves the house or goes to work.
- Feeding a new-born when it is still developing its ability to suckle from the inverted nipples
- Feeding a new-born who struggles to coordinate sucking
Conclusion
Babies get off to the best start possible when they are breastfed.
The finest source of nutrition for the baby, it promotes brain development and has long-term advantages for both the mother and the child.
It plays a crucial role in a child’s sense of security and connection with their mother, both of which are essential for their growth and development.
Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients abundant in breast milk support a child’s healthy development.
Colostrum, the thick, yellowish milk that mothers create right after giving birth, is the baby’s first shot at immunity and is the best food for a newborn.
Breastfeeding guarantees that children have access to food even during emergencies and helps to prevent all forms of malnutrition.
In addition to the mother and child, breastfeeding has advantages for the family and society. Breast milk is a resource that is sustainable, renewable, and does not produce waste or contamination.
Around the age of 6 months, an infant’s need for energy and nutrients starts to exceed and complementary foods are necessary to meet those needs.
Introducing complementary foods at six months and continuing to breastfeed until the child is two years old or older provides a strong line of defense against disease and malnutrition while also promoting a child’s cognitive development.
Top 13 Interesting Facts On Breastfeeding
According to WHO, only 44% of children aged 0 to 6 months were exclusively breastfed globally between 2015 and 2020.
If all children 0-23 months were adequately breastfed, almost 820 000 children’s lives may be saved annually among those under the age of 5.
According to UNICEF, India report, 2022, the percentage of infants under six months who exclusively breastfed increased from 65% in 2015–16 (NFHS 4) to 76% in 2019–21. (NFHS 5).
Here, in India, only 1 in 5 babies could receive breastmilk within an hour, even though 3 out of 4 mothers give birth in health facilities.
Inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes continues to hamper the efforts to improve breastfeeding duration and rates worldwide.
Breast and ovarian cancer risks are lower for women who breastfeed.
Breastfeeding brings economic rewards for individual families as well as at the national level by enhancing child development and lowering health expenditures.
Breastfeeding raises IQ increases school attendance and is linked to higher earnings in later life.
To address the needs of infants born to HIV-infected mothers, antiretroviral medications now permit these infants to exclusively breastfeed until they are 6 months old and continue breastfeeding until they are at least 12 months of age with a greatly reduced risk of HIV transmission.
Breastfeeding is still the preferred method of infant nutrition in practically all challenging circumstances, like, low birth weight or premature babies, mothers with HIV living in areas where diarrheal disease, pneumonia, and malnutrition, adolescent mothers, infants, and young children who are undernourished, and families dealing with the effects of complicated emergencies.
In response, WHO has implemented and monitored the “Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition”, endorsed by the Member States in May 2012.
By 2025, WHO targets to see 50% of infants exclusively breastfed globally.
In addition, WHO and UNICEF have created courses to teach health professionals how to provide skilled support to breastfeeding women, assist them in resolving issues, and keep track of children’s growth.
Aastha Behl
Writer
13angle
