What can be more vital for a newborn than the first yellowish drop of mother's milk? This drop marks the beginning of his survival on this earth. It is just like an antidote or a protective talisman which has the power to ward off any evil that may try to cause harm to him. It is a mother's compassion and love which flows down in the form of milk, the sole food for an infant during the first few months. A mother will feel privileged to feed her baby. Ayurvedic scholars have praised the importance of breast milk due to the myriad health benefits associated with it. In Ayurveda, breast milk is termed as nectar, through which the infant recognizes his mother.
Promoting intelligence is just one of the many benefits of breastfeeding. In May 2008, a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry involving nearly 14,000 children had found that 6 year olds whose mothers were encouraged to breast-feed had a 7.5 higher IQ increase. The study also suggests that the longer a baby is breast-fed, the greater is the baby's potential for having a higher IQ.
Why Breastfeeding is so Important?
- Breast feeding is important as the child's body can easily absorb the milk due to the combination of protein, lactose and fat present in it.
- Breast milk helps the infant to fight infections of the ears and the respiratory tract and diseases like meningitis and diarrhea. According to researchers, infants receiving breast milk exclusively for 4 or more months have 40% fewer chances of getting ear infections.
- It acts as a protective shield against allergies, asthma and obesity.
- Breast milk is a rich source of iron, which can be easily absorbed by the infant in comparison to any other source of the mineral.
- Studies suggest that the amino acid called tryptophan present in breast milk helps the baby to experience sound sleep during the night time.
- Formula-fed children are likely to become obese when they reach the stage of adolescence. On the other hand, those fed with breast milk are less likely to become obese during their teen ages.
- The mother consumes so many variety of foods and this way the baby also gets to taste so much through her breast milk.
- Researchers at the University of North Carolina and Duke University compared 54 children with JRA, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and a control group without JRA of similar age and the result indicated that children who were breastfed were only 40% as likely to develop JRA.
- The 2007 review made by the WHO concluded that breastfed infants may experience lower mean blood pressure later in life.
- Mother's milk may play a role in the protection of newborns from Herpes Simplex virus II contamination.
- When it comes to breast feeding the mother doesn't have to worry about the "perfect" temperature of the milk and about its freshness or the development of infections. Nature works at its best!
- The amount of minerals, vitamins and proteins in breast milk are just perfect and balanced and this cannot be compared with artificial infant formulas.
- Breastfeeding delays fertility. Women who nurse frequently during exclusive breastfeeding remain amenorheic longer than the infrequent nurses who introduce supplements later and do not resume menses as promptly thereafter.
- It promotes postpartum weight loss. A study has shown that women who breastfed exclusively or even partially tend to lose weight in their hip area and and are more likely to lose more weight compared to mothers who use formula milk exclusively.
- Breastfeeding decreases insulin requirements in diabetic women.
- Those infants who are breast fed by their mothers have a sense of emotional security, they are found to be more attached to their mothers and share a special feeling and bonding between them.
- During breastfeeding beneficial hormones like Oxytocin and Prolactin are released into the mother's body causing a relaxing effect to the mother while strengthening the maternal bond.
- Human breast milk is a high-level source of omega-3 fats. This may explain why breastfed babies have a higher IQ than those who are not.
- Mother's milk may also prevent childhood cancers.
- It promotes the overall development and health of the baby. Mothers of 67 infants were questioned about the types and duration of illness episodes requiring medical care between 16 and 30 months of age. Breastfeeding was found to decrease the number of infant illnesses while indirectly improving toddler health.
These days, public health authorities have been largely promoting the importance of breastfeeding via several modes. Slogans supporting breastfeeding get featured on the walls of government hospitals. You cannot deny what Nature has kept in reserve for your child. It is the Nature's way to let you establish a strong bond with your living body part!
