Breastfeeding is nature's process that provides ideal nutrition for a healthy infant, enhancing the baby's immunity against infections. It is a natural resource of enormous value, which is usually overlooked. Breastfeeding produces no waste and hence is environment friendly. However, Breastfeeding is threatened by social attitudes and inappropriate health care practices, lack of support to women as well as promotional tactics of baby milk companies.
 

Breast Milk

    The first breast-milk - "colostrum", which is secreted during the first week of delivery is not less than nectar for the new born. It is more nutritious than mature milk because it contains more protein, more anti-infective properties which are of great importance for the infant's defence against dangerous neonatal infections. It also contains higher levels of Vitamin A, C and E.

    Breast-milk contains more lactose (milk sugar) than milk from any other source, which human baby needs.

    Iron in breastmilk is better absorbed than iron in animal milk.

    Breastmilk is quickly digested because of a special enzyme, lipase, which digests fat.

    It contains enough water for the baby, even in a hot climate, with the result that a breastfed baby does not need to drink any extra water, saving the baby from water-born diseases

    Breast milk is readily available at all times and does not need any preparation.

    Breast milk costs nothing. It is much cheaper than substitutes. The extra food needed for the lactating mother does not cost much and it also helps improve the nutritional status of the mother. It is estimated that the cost of artificial feeding may be as much as one-third of the total family income for a poor family.
 

Advantages of Breast Feeding

    It is the simplest way to feed the baby. Safe, warm, clean, bacteria-free milk is available all the time, and the mother need not worry about how much milk the baby is getting as long as he is happy and is gaining weight.

    It is easily utilised and digested by the baby.

    The mother experiences a feeling of satisfaction and achievement which affects her psychologically and makes her and her baby happier.

    Breastfeeding increases the period of lactation amenorrhoea after delivery, which in turn helps postpone the next pregnancy by increasing spacing between one child and the next.

    Breastfed babies, as opposed to artificially-fed babies, suffer much less from diarrhoea and have fewer respiratory infections. Thus they are less likely to die than bottle-fed babies.

    Breastfed babies are less likely to get colic, infantile allergies and eczema than artificially-fed babies.
 

Disadvantages of Artificial Feeding

    Artificial feeds are often contaminated with bacteria, especially if the mother uses a feeding bottle which she does not clean and boil properly.

    Animal milk does not contain living white cells and antibodies to protect the baby against infections.

    Artificially-fed babies fall ill more often with diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

    Animal milk or milk from any other source may not contain enough and balanced proportions of vitamins for a baby.

    Animal milk contains too much salt which may result in fits. Animal milk also contains excessive calcium and phosphates which may cause tetany, i.e., twitching.

    Animal milk contains more saturated fatty acids and does not contain enough of the essential fatty acids which are vital for proper growth and development.

    Animal milk is expensive and the family might not be able to afford it.
 

^*Breastfeeding Week is being observed from 1 to 8