Breastfeeding: Breastmilk and benefits

Contreras, B. Nadia; Gregorio G. Vanesa; Mateo, Q. Ma. Guadalupe; Mondragón, M. Jeimi; Lopez, D.J. Yazmin; De Jesus, G.  and Valdez R. Sthefania N.

Abstract

Breastfeeding is the ideal way to provide young children with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Virtually all women can breastfeed.

Human breast milk is the natural food produced by the mother to feed the newborn. It is recommended as an exclusive food for the infant until six months of age and with complementary feeding until two years of age, since it contains the majority of the nutrients necessary for its correct growth and development.

Although the exact properties of breast milk are not fully known. It contains the appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, also provides vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, hormones and antibodies from the mother that can help the baby avoid infections, called immunoglobulins.

that is, all the nutrients that a developing infant will require.

Breastfeeding provides multiple benefits for the health of the mother and especially the baby, as well as economic benefits for the family and social.

Rare cases in which it is contraindicated that a woman can breastfeed are usually when they put the health of the baby who is going to be breastfed at risk.

Resumen

La lactancia materna es la forma ideal de proporcionar a los niños pequeños los nutrientes que necesitan para un crecimiento y desarrollo saludables. Prácticamente todas las mujeres pueden amamantar.

La leche materna humana es el alimento natural producido por la madre para alimentar al recién nacido. Se recomienda como alimento exclusivo para el lactante hasta los seis meses de edad y con alimentación complementaria hasta los dos años de edad, ​ ya que contiene la mayoría de los nutrientes necesarios para su correcto crecimiento y desarrollo.

Aunque las propiedades exactas de la leche materna no se conocen completamente. Contiene las cantidades apropiadas de carbohidratos, proteínas y grasas, también proporciona vitaminas, minerales, enzimas digestivas, hormonas y anticuerpos de la madre que pueden ayudar al bebé a evitar infecciones, denominados inmunoglobulinas.

es decir, todos los nutrientes que un infante en desarrollo requerirá.

La lactancia materna proporciona múltiples beneficios para la salud de la madre y sobre todo del bebe, así como también tiene beneficios económicos hacia la familia y sociales.

Son raros los casos en los que se contraindica el que una mujer pueda amamantar por lo general son cuando ponen en riesgo la salud del bebé que va a ser amamantado.

Breastfeeding is the ideal way to provide young children with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Virtually all women can breastfeed, provided they have good information and support from their family and the health care system.

Who recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, the introduction of age-appropriate and safe foods thereafter, and the maintenance of breastfeeding up to 2 years or more.

Breastmilk

Human breast milk is the natural food produced by the mother to feed the newborn. It is recommended as an exclusive food for the infant until six months of age and with complementary feeding until two years of age, since it contains the majority of the nutrients necessary for its correct growth and development. It also contains immunoglobulins and other substances that protect the baby against infections and helps strengthen the mother and child bond, favoring an adequate psychomotor development.

It is also recommended to extend breastfeeding up to two years or more according to WHO recommendations. Infections and allergies are more rare in breast-fed children than bottle-fed children. While it is true that the child comes to the world protected by antibodies, this protection disappears at birth and the immunoglobulins or antibodies present in breast milk take their place and protect him until his own body generates them. The baby receives the first milk during the first days of life, this milk, also called colostrum is very nutritious, thick and yellowish, provides important antibodies that strengthen your immune system and cover the intestinal wall.

Composition

Breast milk is a changing fluid as it adapts to the infant’s requirements over time, depending on the energy needs and development of the newborn. This is how its composition is suffering variations throughout breastfeeding and also during the day. Among the substances that have circadian variations are nucleotides, some have their acrophase during the day and others during the night.

Although the exact properties integrated into breast milk are not completely known, the nutritional content after this period is relatively constant and obtains its ingredients from the mother’s food supply. If that supply decreases, the content is obtained from the mother’s body reserves. The exact composition of breast milk varies from day to day, from take to take, even depending on whether it is day or night, depending on the consumption of food, the environment, the age of the baby. It must also be taken into account that the proportion of water and fat fluctuates. The milk released at the beginning of a meal is watery, low in fat and high in carbohydrates, while the milk at the end of the meal is richer in fat, thus being more satiating. The breast can never really be «emptied» since milk production is a continuous biological process: the greater the baby sucks, the greater the milk production.

Although it is currently recommended worldwide, in the mid-twentieth century the practice of breastfeeding with breast milk went through a period in which it was considered out of fashion and artificial milks were used that were even considered superior to breast milk.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby

• Being easy to digest, it makes better use of nutrients
• Strengthens your immune system
• Provides antibodies
• It helps your digestive system mature
• Prevents anemia
• Strengthens your respiratory system
• Contributes to the prevention of obesity or overweight in the future
• The longer you are breastfeeding, the less likely you are to have cavities
• Benefits in orde to  baby is that sleep more time
• Brings baby close to you
• Could help prevent obesity
• Protects against diseases such as spinal meningitis,type 1 diabetes,and Hodgkin´s lymphoma
• Reduces the risk of viruses,urinary tract infections, inflammatory bowel disease,gastroenteritis,ear infections,and respiratory infections.
• Protects against allergies and eczema.
•  

Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother

• Breastfeeding exclusively produces amenorrhea, which is a natural (but not completely safe) method of birth control.
• Facilitate the bond with the baby
• Reduces the risk of postpartum depression
• Reduce the risk of anemia
• It helps you lose weight
• Prevents breast, ovarian cancer and the risk of osteoporosis after menopause.
• Weight loss and reduction in waist circumference.
• It reduces postpartum hemorrhage and accelerates the recovery of the uterus due to the release of oxytocin during lactation.
• It reduces the risk of diabetes even more if you have suffered gestational diabetes.
• It protects the mother against a fractured hip in the elderly and reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Contraindications

• AIDS: in developed countries it is considered a true contraindication. In other parts of the world, infant mortality due to malnutrition and infectious diseases, associated with artificial feeding, is considered to be higher than the risk of transmission of AIDS through breastfeeding.
• Herpes simplex: In newborns of less than 15 days it can produce a life-threatening infection. During the first month the presence of herpes simplex lesions in a nipple contraindicates breastfeeding on that side until healing. People with cold sores should also not kiss babies.
• Galactosemia in the baby: severe congenital disease due to deficiency of the enzyme galactose-l-phosphate uridyl transferase in the liver.Children who have galactosemia should drink a milk completely free of lactose.
• Phenylketonuria in the baby: due to a deficiency of phenylamine hydroxylase; if not treated early, the child develops a progressive neurological involvement

Conclusions

Breastfeeding is the ideal way to provide young children with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.

It contains all the nutrients and substances necessary for the proper development of the child.

It is considered the first vaccine because it protects the baby from future diseases by providing antibodies.

All women can breastfeed except for specific cases that endanger the health of the mother or the baby.

It has too many benefits to the mother’s health.

It has economic, social and ecological benefits since you don’t have to buy milk formulas and it doesn’t pollute the environment.

Most of the benefits are for the baby as it helps prevent diseases and allows a correct mental and physical development.

Breastfeeding is an act of love that unites the mother with her baby.

References

1. WHO; et at (2018). Breastfeeding in WHO. Retrived 20th August, 2019 from: https://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/es/
2. Kramer M et al. Promotion of Breastfeeding Iantervention Trial (PROBIT): A randomized trial in the Republic of Belarus. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001, 285(4): 413-420).
3. Jesús, G.A. (2000). Advantages of breastfeeding. In Naturopathic Medicine Website. Retrived: 17 August, 2019 from: LactanciaMaterna Advantages-202434% 20 (1) .pdf

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