RESEARCH on breastfeeding continues to show important health benefits for babies and mothers.
Not only does breastfeeding boost the infant's physical and mental development, but it also protects the mother.
Here are some facts about breastfeeding and its benefits.
Does breastfeeding reduce heart disease?
Children and adolescents who were breastfed as babies are less likely to be overweight or obese. Breastfed infants also experience lower mean blood pressure later in life, which reduces the risk of heart disease.
Breastfeeding is also associated with a lower maternal risk of hospitalisation and mortality due to cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older women. It may offer long-term benefits in maternal cardiovascular health.
At what age is breastfeeding no longer beneficial?
The duration is a personal decision. The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding (no other fluids or solids) for six months after giving birth, and then to continue breastfeeding combined with solid food for two years, or as long as the mother and baby desire.
Why is breastfeeding important for child development?
Breast milk is uniquely suited to the infant's nutritional needs, and is a life substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases.
Babies who are not breastfed have been observed to likely suffer from necrotising enterocolitis, diarrhoea, respiratory infections and otitis media, besides having a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
The benefits of breastfeeding have been found to continue long beyond infancy, even into adulthood.
Children who have been breastfed have lower chance of becoming obese, overweight and developing type 2 diabetes as adults, besides having a higher intelligence quotient.
In addition, breastfeeding also has protective effects for the mother, including decreased risk of postpartum haemorrhage, postpartum depression, heart disease and breast and ovarian cancer.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum, or the "first golden milk", gives newborns an immunity boost while their immune system is developing, and supports lifelong health.
Colostrum, which has also been called "liquid gold" or "immune milk", is a clear, sticky, thick liquid produced by the mother's mammary glands on the first day of giving birth.
Later, the colostrum will turn thick and yellowish, which is packed with nutrients and other important substances that help the baby with his or her immune system.
There will not be a lot of this liquid at first, but the amount will gradually increase over the first couple of days.
Most babies will get all the nutrition they need through their mother's colostrum during the first few days of life.
Can mums exclusively breastfeed for two years?
For the first six months, breast milk is the only food and drink an infant needs. After six months, a baby will require other types of food in addition to breast milk to ensure healthy growth and development.
The transition from exclusive breastfeeding to family food is referred to as complementary feeding, and typically covers the period from six to 18 or 24 months of the babies' age, and is a very vulnerable period. Breastfeeding should be continued until two years of age and beyond.
The first two years of life provide a critical window of opportunity to ensure a child's appropriate growth and development through optimal feeding.
Can pregnant and lactating mothers get the Covid-19 vaccine?
Yes, it is recommended for expectant and lactating mothers to be vaccinated. Covid-19 vaccines are not a risk to lactating women or their babies, and vaccination also does not affect a mother's milk production.
Fast Facts
Colostrum
Antibody rich - protects against infection and allergy
Many white cells - protects against infection
Purgative - clears meconium, helps prevent jaundice
Growth factors - helps intestine mature, prevents allergy and intolerance
Vitamin-A rich - reduces severity of some infections (measles, diarrhoea), prevents vitamin A related eye diseases.
Benefits of Colostrum
*Human colostrum is high in carbohydrates, protein, antibodies and low in fat.
*It actually works as a natural and 100 per cent safe "vaccine". It contains large quantities of an antibody which is a new substance to the newborn.
* Antibodies Secretory Immunoglobulin A (IgA) help protect the mucous membranes in the intestines of the infant.
*Colostrum also contains high concentrations of leukocytes, protective white cells that can destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
*It has a laxative effect that helps expel the first stool called meconium. This clears excess bilirubin, a waste product of dead red blood cells which is produced in large quantities at birth due to blood volume reduction from the infant's body and helps prevent jaundice.
* It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and protects the gut lining.
*Colostrum is high in cholesterol, which is essential for the growth of the baby's nervous system at this stage.
*Sugars in colostrum provide the energy required for the baby's growing body.
*The writer is a paediatrician and lactation consultant at Pantai Hospital Penang.
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