The World Health organization of late propagating the importance of Breast feeding in a never before fashion. Now the scientists all over the world are stressing that infants should be fed with mother's milk up to 6 months.There is no alternative to mother's milk which is a natural food and ideal food for the new-born. All the ingredients necessary for a child's growth are available in mother's milk. Mother's milk prevents cold, fever and loose motions in a just born baby and thereafter. It strengthens the immune system in the child.
According to statistics, out of 1000 children, around 45 are dying within an year. Now, realizing the importance and necessity of breast feeding and its effect on the child's longevity, entire world is directing all endeavors to reduce the infant deaths.
Now it's an established fact that Breast feeding is not only good to the child's health, but also plays an important role in enhancing the mother's health also.
Women put up lot of weight during pregnancy. A mother's excess weight will be reduced effectively by breast feeding her kid.
Bloodlessness, high B.P in the mothers are effectively reduced by Breast feeding. Studies say that the possibility of Breast cancer and osteoporosis, a bone related ailment are very less in the mothers who breast feed their babies.
Miracle ingredient in Breast Milk.
The studies conducted by the Scientists at the Queen Mary's, university of London revealed that there is an ingredient in Breast milk that is capable of saving the tender and sensitive parts of intestines of a new - born baby.
This miracle ingredient according to the study is known as, "Pancreatic Secretary Trypsin Inhibitor or PSTI is present in Mother's milk. But PSTI is present in large quantities in the first milk after delivery. known as Colostrum. The studies of the scientists further revealed that the amount of PSTI is seven times more than the PSTI present in the ordinary days
This PSTI is not available in the tinned milk or formula milk used as an alternative to mother's milk by most of the mothers all over the world.
How the efficacy of PSTI was established.
Scientists inflicted a wound to the cells of the intestines. The very next moment, The PSTI prompted other cells to form a security cover around the wound on the intestines. It's not all, PSTI prevented the cells of the intestines from inflicting self injury. It was discovered that PSTI has provided more than 75 percent protection.
Where the PSTI cells are located ?
PSTI cells are present in the pancreas. These cells see to it that the digestion causing enzymes generated by pancreas will not damage pancreas. It was observed by the scientists that PSTI cells are performing a similar function in the intestines. Scientists ware amazed to find the protective function of the PSTI cells as a natural inborn shield.
This revelation has a marked significance in the sense that the protective potency of an ingredient present in mother's milk has opened flood gates to find out whole lot of information pertaining to a child's future food and the effects of food on the child. This knowledge will be utilized to plan a safe food for the kids in future.
PSTI unique all the way.
With the time, uniqueness of PSTI is seeing the light in many amazing forms. One of them is PSTI changes its qualities in tune with the child's needs.Researchers say that there are three types of Nucleotides in mother's milk. They are adenosine, guano sine and uridine. These
Nucleotides control the central nervous system by arousing and appeasing to make the child rest and sleep.
The experiments conducted on the Nucleotides in the mother's milk at different times of the day. The studies revealed that the amount of Nucleotides is found to be maximum between 8 pm to 8 am. From the above the scientists arrived to the conclusion that Nucleotides control the sleeping patterns of the child.
PSTI releases the necessary Nucleotides essential for the baby to keep it active during daytime. Similarly PSTI releases the necessary Nucleotides for the baby to keep it active and to induce sleep during night time..
It is evident from the above that it’s essential to adhere to time and the PSTI patterns in order to supply nutrients to the baby. The feeding time of baby should be uniform and same all the times. Care should be taken to feed the baby with mother's milk afresh.
Many working mothers cannot adhere to this pattern because of their work schedules. They preserve the milk in a bottle and entrust the job of feeding the baby to someone else in the family. However this practice is wrong. And this practice will not give the good results.
Mother's milk cannot be duplicated.
Right from its formation in the mother's womb until it’s born, a baby's necessities related to its growth are made in the mother's body. It’s not all, from the day the child comes in to this world, the required nutrients necessary for growth and the essential antibodies are also made ready in the form of mother’s milk . Antibodies are also called as Immunoglobulins. They contribute a lot in strengthening the child's immunity. Mother’s milk acts like a shield.
A new born baby will have a weak immunity system. Hence they have less strength to fight illnesses and infections. It's exactly at this juncture Immunoglobulins or antibodies will come to the rescue of the newborn.
It’s only a mother can provide this impregnable shield that protects her child day in and day out.
Colostrum, the store house of energy.
The first milk after the delivery is known as Colostrum. This milk is thick and yellow in color. Colostrum is the storehouse of nutrients, hormones and antibodies. Owing to its virtues, it's called as "Liquid gold." Unless and otherwise the doctor says NO, a child should be allowed to use the Colostrum
As the child grows changes do occur in the Colostrum. By the 5th day after delivery, Colostrum gradually changes to "Milk". This milk contains fat, sugar water and proteins necessary for the growth of the child. This milk will be white in color. Milk also contains nutrients and antibodies in abundance.
Formula milk Vs Mother's milk.
Formula milk or the manufactured milk that comes in tins is generally used as a substitute for mother's milk. But as it was pointed out that nothing can match the Mother's milk. Here are some differences between Formula milk and mother's milk.
Mother's milk is easily digested, compared to Formula milk. Especially for those children who are born premature.
It takes very little time for the child to get used to Mother's milk.
There is a risk for the premature children to get infected with Necrotizing Enterocolitis, a digestive canal related ailment. Mother's milk has the potential to prevent this ailment.
Children used to formula milk are likely to get infected by ear related problems and diahorrea. Mother's milk will stop this.
Mother's milk will prevent respiratory infections and a skin related disorder known as Atopic Dermatitis in a child. Mother's milk also prevents the risks of blood cancer and diabetes.
Mother's milk will act like a shield to prevent ailments like asthma and obesity in future. It also sees to it that a child's body temperature, Hypothermia is maintained uniformly.
Contents of Mother's milk.
Fat - 4.5 %
Proteins - 1.1 gm / 100 ml.
Carbohydrates - 7.1 %
Minerals - 0.2 %
Vitamins - as per the requirement of the child.
Energy - 60 -70 K Cal.
Other specialties in Mother's milk.
Mother's milk is the result of two hormones proloctin and oxytocin.
The combination of acids present in Mother's milk Alpha -lactaalbumin and oleic acids are capable of destroying the tumor cells. The combination results in a substance called "Hamlet". Hamlet provides protection from cancer to the children.
There are around 600 varieties of good bacteria present in the Mother's milk.
There are 200 varieties of oligosaccharides, a rare variety of sugar molecules in mother's milk. Oligosaccharides cannot be found in any other substance in nature. They protect infants against infection.
A most astonishing thing is the presence of Cannabinoids in Mother's milk. It is astonishing because the same Cannabinoids are present in marijuana. But the purpose of presence of Cannabinoids is different. The Cannabinoids play a vital role in the growth and development of babies. More importantly they promote hunger, at the same time prevent over drinking of milk. This quality is not present in formula milk.
The naturally occurring Cannabinoids in mother's milk also helps the newborn baby how to suckle the milk from the mother's breast. This is due to the activation of Cannabinoid receptors in the brain.
Colostrum, the first milk contains more proteins and less carbohydrates.
Among the amino acids present in Mother's milk taurine and glutamic acid are very important. Taurin plays a vital role in the development of brain in the new born infants.
Colostrum, the first milk, besides boosting the immune system of the infant, will act as a laxative in purging out the first motion of the infant and sees to it that bilirubin, found in bile is not accumulated.
Researchers discovered that the reason for generation of inadequate mother's milk is the inability of the infant to suck milk. It means, the more the infant drinks mother's milk, the more mother's milk is generated. The other reasons for non generation of milk are use of medicines containing estrogen, dehydration and the deficiency of hormone called proloctin.
Mother's milk makes the baby respond to inoculations.
A baby who drinks mother's milk for an year will have a good eyesight and high intelligence levels.
Mother's milk keeps the baby away from allergies and offers high protection from ulcers.
Breast feeding mothers too are the beneficiaries. The first and foremost benefit is post delivery bleeding will be reduced which in turn reduces the risk of anemia. Reduces risk of pre - menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Remember Breast fed babies are the Best Breed.