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Mother is responsible for the mental and physical growth of his baby from his first day to maturity. A bond is created between baby and mother after birth. This bond comprises feelings of affection. She is responsible for the character and attitude of her baby. The health of the baby is directly measured with the health of the mother.
When the pregnancy starts, a mechanism inside the mother reproductive system starts which ends with the delivery of a baby. A baby usually of 1 day to 6 months is more prone to disease because of weak immune, cardiovascular and osteological system. Moreover, the brain has to develop with age. Improper nutrition leads to digestive problems, skin issues and even stunted growth of a baby. The nutrients like fats, proteins, vitamins, and carbohydrates are required in large quantity for a baby after birth. Fat plays an important role in the development of a child’s brain. They help in reaching the maximum growth potential baby.
Fat is actually a fuel of a body which helps in absorbing the useful vitamins like vitamins A, D, E and K. Proteins even has its own role in the survival of baby during early ages as it carries enzymes and increases the oxygen carrying capacity of an infant by creating hemoglobin. Hence solve respiratory problems faced by an infant. These are mainly present in a solid form in a market which is not suitable for a baby to ingest. For that purpose, the natural mechanism is developed by divine hands in form of mother mammary glands which produce milk and baby gets relief from all deficiencies related to mental and physical growth.
In mammary glands, the milk is produced in small clusters of cells called alveoli. A hormone called oxytocin is released which causes the contraction of cells around alveoli and ejection of milk occurs through milk ducts. No one can challenge the importance and versatile functions of this natural milk. This importance is nourished by reports of different international organizations and research reports. According to them, an infant must uptake mother of milk from his first day to 1 year approximately.
The reason why it has so much important than those of expansive preserved nutrients present on the shelves of superstores? Its chemical and physical properties make perfect. The composition of breast milk consists of 6.9%-7.2% carbohydrates,3%-5% fat and 0.8%-0.9% with 0.2% of minerals expressed in ash. The energy content of this milk is 60-75kcal/100ml. In human milk’s fat, there are high contents of palmitic and oleic acid. The main mineral constituents of human milk are phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chlorine. Due to its unique composition, it is preferred all over other types of milk.
Mother milk is not only important for the health of the baby but the mother herself also gets advantage from it. According to Ruth A. Lawrence (A professor of pediatrics), babies during first days are at high risk of pneumonia, virus, and colds but in breastfed babies, this risk is much lower. Moreover, those babies are also immune to diarrhea. Various diseases in chronic conditions are more prone to babies like Type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s and celiac diseases who are not breastfed. Those babies who are breastfed have the half-chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The pre-milk “Colostrum” which comes in after delivery is an excellent source of antibodies for the protection of newborn and can satisfy the appetite by providing in a small amount as it contains the lower amount of sugar higher proportion of proteins. The exclusive breastfeeding of 3 months or more reduces the middle ear infections by up to 50%. Babies having the supply of mother milk for 6 months reduces the risk of cold and throat infection by up to 63%.
The gut infection risk reduces 64% with the continuous supply of milk for 2 months. 27-42% risk of asthma, eczema and atopic dermatitis reduces with the continuous supply of milk for 3-4 months. Breastfed babies have 30% fewer chances of developing inflammatory bowel disease. Childhood leukemia chances are 15-20% rare in these babies. The milk reduces the future obesity of a baby. The babies have the larger amount of beneficial gut bacteria affecting the storage of fat. These babies have more leptin, a hormone which is helpful in regulating appetite as well as fat storage.
When the breastfed babies grow, they do not face the problems of intelligence and behavior of learning. Prolonged brain development lacks in preterm babies. In the brain of breastfed infants, white matter has the higher density of long neurons aiding in the coordination of brain parts. This milk is helpful for orthodontic problems.
Those women who breastfeed also get a benefit as there is the lower risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis in them. These women absorb calcium more efficiently during lactation in the pregnancy period. The mother loses calories by breastfeeding as breast milk contains 20 calories per ounce. There is a depression called postpartum depression which arises after childbirth and it mainly affects 15% of mother population. This type of depression is less likely to develop in breastfed mothers. During pregnancy, the size of a uterus increases.
After birth, there is a loss of blood. Oxytocin is released and increased in breastfeeding which helps in the contraction of uterine and it urges the uterus to regain the previous size. Breastfeeding mothers do not have problems with joints like rheumatoid arthritis. They are less prone to breast cancers which are affecting one out of each 9 women in Pakistan according to reports. These mothers do not face the problem of anemia. The breastfeeding increases the confidence as well as self-esteem of the mother which ultimately nourish the nature of a child. Those mothers do not face the usual problem of hypertension, thus it does not increases the blood pressure.
There is no opponent of mother milk as it has not even a single disadvantage reported according to the research. But the story related to surveys in Pakistan is somewhat different. In 1991-92, a nationwide survey was conducted in order to know the information related to mother and child health. The results indicated that the majority of women are not breastfeeding their children. The reasons behind undesirable breastfeeding were considered mainly with younger mother’s age, urban residence, and higher educational attainment.
Now the rate is much higher as the numbers of people are migrating to cities. Moreover, people now used to rely on artificial fluids for the growth. This is a harmful fact. The trend should be changed. The government should take responsibility in order to aware the people about the importance. Seminars should be arranged from a city level to a village. “Healthy mother is the sign of Healthy generation”.
