The ABC’s of Breastfeeding: Antibodies, Breast Milk, Colostrum
World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration held every year on the first week of August to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. The World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Medical Association (AMA) emphasize the value of breastfeeding for mothers as well as children. Here are some of the ways that breastfeeding benefits mothers and babies:
Antibodies: After getting vaccinated, a pregnant woman’s body creates antibodies, which recognize pathogens and boost the body’s defenses against these pathogens. The protective antibodies made in the pregnant woman’s body are transferred to the baby. Antibodies take five forms, denoted as IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE. All have been found in human milk, but by far the most abundant type is IgA. Secretory IGA, a type of immunoglobulin that protects the ears, nose, throat, and the GI tract, is found in high amounts in breast milk throughout the first year. A mother’s milk has an amazing ability to offer protection from day-to-day exposure to contagious illnesses with immune properties that pass into her milk. This protection continues for as long as a baby continues to nurse.
Breast milk: Breast milk is the perfect nutrition for a baby as it provides the right mix of nutrients and protective antibodies they need. Whether the milk is given from breastfeeding or breast pumping, breast milk contains all the proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and enzymes required for a baby’s growth and development (See video below). Numerous studies from around the world have shown that infants fed with breast milk have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes and allergies than bottle-fed babies. Exclusive breastfeeding (meaning no solid food, formula, or water) for at least six months seems to offer the most protection.
Colostrum: Colostrum is the “first milk” that a breastfeeding mother produces in the weeks before delivery and in the early days of breastfeeding. It is light yellow, gold, or sometimes clear in color, and is a thick, creamy liquid. This special milk is low in fat and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies and is easy to digest. Although the amount of colostrum is low, it is high in concentrated nutrition. It is the perfect first food for the newborn baby.
Giving the gift of breast milk is also a wonderful gift for the mother. First, breastfeeding helps get rid of that extra weight gained during pregnancy. In fact, producing milk for a single infant burns anywhere between 300–500 extra calories a day. Secondly, those who had breastfed for more than 12 months were 10 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared with women who had not breastfed. Also, the relationship the other develops with her baby during breastfeeding enhances her emotional health. This results in less anxiety and a stronger sense of connection.
Breast feeding may also provide protection against breast cancer. One study found that mothers with gestational diabetes who breastfed immediately after giving birth are also half as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Another study showed that the risk of breast cancer decreased as the number of months spent lactating increased. The reason might be related to how women’s estrogen levels are lower during breastfeeding. Families also benefit from breast milk because it lowers household expenditures by avoiding the high cost of formula (formula costs can run up to $50/week).
According to a study published in the Pediatrics, the United States would save about $13 billion per year in medical costs if 90 percent of U.S. families breastfed their newborns for at least six months. A 2016 Lancet publication concluded that universal breast-feeding would prevent 800,000 child deaths a year across the globe and yield $300 billion in savings from reduced health care costs and improved economic outcomes for those breastfed.
In a world filled with inequality, disease, and poverty — breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong good health for babies, mothers, and families.
