Breastfeeding: Wholesome Nourishment and Immunity Shield for Your Infant

By Dr. Shalini Tyagi in Paediatric Oncology

Aug 7, 2020

Breastfeeding is that divine nourishment which, nurtures, sustains and protects a newborn.They say “look deep into nature and then you will understand everything”. A picture of a mother breastfeeding a newborn baby truly portraits the above statement.

Breast-milk is natural nourishment for an offspring, may it be a child, or offspring of other species. Mother Nature has made the milk in the breast wholesome for the baby and has prepared the baby’s body to digest it completely and properly.

As stated by Grantly Dick-Read, a newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three.

Benefits of Breast Feeding for Newborn.

• Breast-feeding is the first vaccine that the baby receives. Apart from being a complete nutritional bundle, mother’s milk is no less than a miracle. It is full of live antibodies that help the child fight infections that they are susceptible to in the early infancy period. When babies suckle on mother’s breast the live good bacteria on the mother skin help establish good bacteria in the child’s intestines as well, which not only helps in digestion, prevention of infections it also reduces the possibility of allergies development in children.
• The milk that is secreted by the breast in the first two days is known as colostrum, it has a significant number of live antibodies that protect the vulnerable newborn from getting infected with bugs/viruses from the environment. Breast-feeding should be started immediately after birth as colostrum is less in quantity and it should not be wasted.
• Exclusive breastfeeding should be continued for at least 4 to 6 months and breastfeeding along with other foods should be continued at least till two years of age or maybe further.
• Mother’s milk helps to develop a healthy body and a happy soul of the baby. Replacement of breast-feeding by any artificial means like bottle-feeding and formula feeding should be avoided, as much as we can. With the number of assisted deliveries increasing breastfeeding is being compromised. Breastfeeding is a mother’s superpower and it is the most precious gift a mother can give to her newborn.

Advantages of Breast Feeding for Mothers

• No doubt lovingly nursing your newborn by breastfeeding is a divine feeling in itself, however, breastfeeding has multiple advantages for the nursing mother too.
• Regular breastfeeding helps the mother to regain the size of her uterus back to normal which is enlarged during the pregnancy.
• It also helps in reducing the post-pregnancy weight for the Mother. Remember it is your cardio and studies show that nursing mothers have fewer chances of developing breast cancer later in life.
• The baby digests breast milk better and is significantly less colicky and a happy. So it won’t be wrong to say that breastfeeding spreads happiness both in mother and the baby.
• Health is defined as physical mental and emotional well-being and not just the absence of diseases. Nursing a newborn baby is the most emotionally satisfying moment for any mother.
• Above all breastfeeding further strengthens the heavenly bond between a newborn and mother.