“Painful” and “queasy” are two of the negative adjectives mothers associate with breastfeeding. However, even if this is the case, many mothers recognise the advantages of nursing their baby and choose breastfeeding over other alternatives.
Even commercials promoting infant formulas acknowledge that breast milk is best for babies. Doctors have unanimously agreed that there are no healthier alternatives to breast milk currently offered on the market. If, however, a mother is unable to breastfeed due her taking certain medication during lactation or having a disease which may affect the quality of her breast milk, she may have no choice, but to feed her baby with a formula. Experts say that breast milk promotes the health of the baby, aids in developing a stronger immune system to fight against diseases and lowers the feeding costs of the family.
Statistics show that in most countries, newborn babies that are fed on formula are prone to suffer from diarrhoea, which can, very occasionally, be fatal. The World Health Organisation promotes breastfeeding as the best method of feeding an infant for the first six months of its life.
According to scientists, some infant diseases and infections can be prevented when mothers feed them with breast milk. In premature babies, the disease necrotising enterocolitis is characterised by an inflammation of the infant’s intestines. This can lead to complications with the child’s intestinal tissue. Research on premature babies with narcotising enterocolitis has shown that it is six to ten times more common in those who have been fed on formula.
Breastfeeding can also strengthen the baby’s immune system. A mother’s breast milk is full of antibodies that help the baby fight against disease. These antibodies protect the infant from infections caused by amoeba, intestinal bacteria and other micro organisms that are harmful to it.
Scientists and experts have also associated a baby’s intelligence with breastfeeding. According to experts in the field, babies who are breastfed tend to develop higher verbal intelligence and perform better in intelligence tests.
In addition, infants who are exclusively fed with breast milk have less chance of acquiring Type 1 Diabetes, compared to infants who are fed on artificial formulas, since this type of diabetes is associated with the chemicals and compounds used in manufacturing artificial milk, specifically the chemical that promotes weight gain.
Of course, apart from the scientifically proven benefits linked with breastfeeding, it is also a natural form of bonding between mother and child. When a mother is breastfeeding, hormones are released, which have been proven to strengthen the bond between a mother and her child.
Breast milk is still the best food an infant can get and apart from the cases mentioned earlier, which may preclude breastfeeding, no other alternative comes close to replacing it. It just goes to show that when it comes to the health and well being of your child, ‘Mother Nature’ knows best.
