Breast milk is the ideal food for an infant.

The success of breast feeding is attested for by the survival of the human species.

No other type of food is required until the baby is about 4 to 5 months old.

The unparalled value of breast feeding to the infant is well known. It is a safe, protective and nutricious way to feed an infant.

It is well established that a child who is breast fed has greater chances of survival than a child artificially fed. The infant mortality rates in developing countries are 5-10 times higher than children who have not been breast fed.

Despite the numerous advantages of breast feeding , its popularity has declined in many parts of the world. The changes of breast feeding practices has affected the third world communities even more than the developed world. This is mainly because they do not have access to clean drinking water.

Every mother should be encouraged to breast feed her baby. It is also recommended that mothers should exclusively breast feed their babies for the first six months of life.

The advantages of breast feeding can be summarized as follows:

For the Infant

i) Provides essential and adequate nutrients at the correct temperature. It meets the nutritional requirements of the infant in the first few months of life.

ii)It is safe, clean and hygenic.

iii) Breast milk has antimicrobial factors such as lymphocytes, macrophages, secretory IgA , lysozyme ,lactoferrin and anti-streptococcal factor which provide protection against diarrhoeal diseases, necrotising enterocolitis and respiratory infections including otitis media in the first months of life.

iv)Reduced incidence of allergic disorders.

v) There is generalized reduction in childhood illness and hospital admissions.

vi) Promotion of mother-infant bonding and therefore appropriate psychosocial abilities.

vii) Sucking is good for the baby as it helps in the development of jaws and teeth.

viii) Breast milk protects babies from the tendency to obesity.

ix) It prevents malnutrition.

x) Breast milk provides several biochemical advantages such as prevention of neonatal hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia.

For the Mother

i) Protection against cancer of the breast.

ii) Personal fulfilment and satisfaction of motherhood.

iii) Protection against early pregnancy post-delivery (a type of natural birth control- Lactational amenorrhoea).

iv)Faster involution of the uterus and therefore reduction in post-partum morbidity.

For the Family and Community

i) Reduced morbidity.

ii) Reduction in the cost of child care (Parents do not have to pay for expensive milk substitutes).

iii) It is environmentally friendly- no litters of cans  etc.

iv) Aids family spacing , increases the period of infertility after delivery (lactational amenorrhoed- though not very reliable it has a very great impact on developing countries compared to other contraceptive use).

 

Problems with breast feeding

This can be divided into medical and psychological

Medical : This is extremely rare – This may be due to some anatomical or physiological abnormality.

Psychological: Very common cause of lactational failure. This includes inadequate knowledge of breast feeding and infant nutition. Common misconceptions and lack of social support are also responsible for problems with breast feeding.

 

Some of the common misconceptions are given below:

Some Commonly held Misconceptions regarding Breast milk and Breast feeding

i) Colostrum (the initial milk secreted) is dirty milk and should not be given to the baby.

ii) Breast feeding is no longer fashionable.

iii) Loss of sexual activity during lactation.

iv) Breast milk is not enough for the growing infant.

v) Breast size is small and therefore output may be small.

vi) Breast may sag as a result of breast feeding with subsequent loss of sexual appeal.

vii) Breast milk can be poisonous to the baby.

viii) For working mothers early introduction of supplimental feeds to get baby used tp formula milk.

 

References:

i) Paediatrics and child health in a tropical region edited by J. C. Azubuike and K.E. O Nkanginieme-1999 

ii) Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine by K .Park 17 th edition -2002.

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