Breast milk, the best nutrient for an infant
Exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent infections in babies and lessens the frequency and severity of infectious episodes
Fahmida Hashem
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is celebrated annually from 1st August to 7th August in almost all the countries. WBW aims to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to the health and welfare of babies, as well as a wider push for maternal health. The theme to the 2018 WBW campaign Breastfeeding-Foundation of life was aimed at tackling this.
Breast milk is the gold standard strong foundation for infant nutrition as it contains the right balance of nutrients for the baby while boosting its immune system. It is clear that breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a childs healthy development; it is also the foundation of a countrys development. In fact, supporting breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments countries can make in the wellbeing of their citizens and thus, in their own long-term strength.
Breastfed is a foundation of a healthy early childhood supporting both physical and cognitive development. It is associated with higher cognitive ability, increased I.Q. scores and better learning and literacy outcomes all of which can translate into increased productivity and earnings later in life.
Mothers milk is essential for early childhood development, supporting healthy brain development, increased I.Q. scores and better school performance. The likely mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of breast milk on intelligence is the presence of long-chain saturated fatty acids (DHAs) found in breast milk, which is essential for brain development. Researchers believe that long-chain saturated fatty acids found in breast milk are key to brain development, noting that the amount of milk consumed seems to be associated with the effects of breast milk consumption.
But up till now too many women in Bangladesh are not receiving the information and support they need to breastfeed successfully. So we need to improve breastfeeding practices makes the world healthier, smarter, and more equal. Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.
Breast milk is this amazing liquid that, through millions of years of evolution, has evolved to make babies healthy, particularly their immune systems. Breast milk provides vital nutrients not only to infants, but also to beneficial microbes like PROBIOTICS that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. For example, human milk sugars are known to selectively promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes such as bifidobacteria, which prevent diarrhea and pathogenic infection in infants. One major component of human milk is a sugar called lacto-N-tetraose, which is virtually absent in the milk of other mammals.
Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has the perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat -- everything your infant needs to grow. And its all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding reduces your babys risk of having asthma or allergies. Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first six months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea.
Breastfeeding is a valuable natural world resource that is under threat from formula companies. We need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in every country. So, feed the future and Take action from now. Increased rates of exclusive and continued breastfeeding can only be achieved by cooperating and collaborating across sectors and generations.
Mothers should be advised by health professionals and nutritionists/ dietitians that, in addition to all the other benefits, exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent infections in babies and lessens the frequency and severity of infectious episodes.
If we want we can make faster progress toward all our development goals by better promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding. We need to support, educate and encourage mothers to keep breastfeeding for at least the first 12 months of their babys life. Babies need Mom Made, not Man-Made science proves this conclusively. Because breast milk is not free, it costs time and commitment; we need to invest more in building a culture of breastfeeding in Bangladesh.
While breastfeeding is a natural act, it is also a learned behavior. Lets advocate together to transform evidence into action for breastfeeding like join forces with other global, regional or national initiatives for greater impact, advocate to decision-makers for greater political, financial and social support, align strategies and work plans with those of allies and partners, use latest evidence on the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding for advocacy work, advocate to your government to work towards the WHA global target ACTION POINTS SURVIVAL.
Breastfeeding is not just a womans issue or the sole responsibility of a woman - the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding is a collective societal responsibility shared by us all.
The writer is a nutritionist
