World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated all over the world in the first week of August each year, and this year is no exception.
This year’s observation is on the theme: “Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: Strengthen what works”, which clearly supports the superiority of breast milk over its substitutes.
The theme focuses on tracking progress, evaluating impact and scaling proven approaches such as skilled counselling and community support.
Why should we continue to promote breastfeeding?
Human breast milk provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to eat and digest other food.
During the first few days after delivery, the breast produces colostrum, a thin yellowish fluid, which is rich in protein.
It also contains antibodies that provide passive immunity to the baby because the baby's immune system is immature.
Colostrum also helps the baby’s digestive system to grow and function properly. Unfortunately, colostrum has been erroneously tagged as dirty milk, which must never be given to the child. This assertion is absolutely false, and every effort should be channelled into correcting this misconception.
The breast milk changes and increases in quantity about 48 to 72 hours after birth. It may take longer depending on when breastfeeding is started and how often breastfeeding is done. The change in milk occurs a little earlier if one has breastfed before.
Aside from the colostrum, there are foremilk and hindmilk. During breastfeeding, the first milk the baby receives is called foremilk.
It is thin and watery with a light blue tinge. Foremilk is largely water needed to satisfy the baby’s thirst.
The hindmilk is released after several minutes of nursing. It is similar in texture to cream and has the highest concentration of fat.
The hindmilk has a relaxing effect on the baby. It helps the baby to feel satisfied and contributes to weight gain by the baby.
Protein in breast milk is mostly whey, which is easier to digest by the baby than casein, the main protein in cow's milk from which most formula milk is made.
Protein in breast milk has high amounts of an amino acid called taurine, which has an important role in the development of the brain and the eyes of the baby. The same cannot be said of the protein in formula.
Fats in breast milk are practically self-digesting because breast milk also contains lipase, an enzyme responsible for the digestion of fat.
Fat is the main source of calories for babies - and babies need lots of calories to grow well! Also, fat in human milk has large amounts of certain essential fatty acids such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain growth and development.
Vitamins and minerals in human milk are bioavailable, meaning they get absorbed well. Breast milk contains substances that enhance the absorption of minerals and vitamins. As much as companies that produce formula try to enhance their milk, it always comes second to breast milk.
Breast milk has been shown to affect an infant's gene expression. Breast milk and formula have different effects on at least 146 genes. Most of the genes enhanced by breast milk promote quick development of the intestine and immune system. For example, some of the genes positively affected by breast milk protect against "leaky gut".
In each feeding, the mother delivers millions of living white blood cells to the baby to help fight off all kinds of diseases. This is not found in the formula! Also, when a mother is exposed to a germ, she makes antibodies to that germ and gives these antibodies to the infant via breast milk.
Breast milk also contains factors that prevent microorganisms from attaching to cells to cause infection, as well as a long list of other antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic factors.
Even more amazing is the fact that, if a baby contracts an illness that the mother has not been exposed to previously, the baby transfers this organism through saliva to the breast, where antibodies are manufactured on site and then sent back to the baby via the milk to help the baby fight it off.
Breast milk has lots of digestive enzymes and also many hormones. These all contribute to the baby's well-being. Every year, scientists find more valuable substances in breast milk.
Science is only beginning to unravel what is in human milk that helps babies' growth and development.
Breastfeeding prevents obesity in babies and greatly reduces the risk of being overweight in adulthood. In contrast, formula is so energy dense that it causes obesity both in babies and even in adults.
Formula-fed babies have worse jaw alignment and are more likely to need orthodontic work as they grow older. This is probably because the sucking action during breastfeeding improves the development of facial muscles and the shape of the palate.
Formula-fed babies have poorer vision and get more ear infections than breast-fed infants. They suffer more and more severe upper respiratory infections, wheezing, pneumonia and influenza.
They experience more diarrhoea, more gastrointestinal infections and constipation compared to their breastfed counterparts.
Formula-fed babies have an increased risk of heart disease, juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma and allergy.
Breastfeeding may also play a role in preventing digestive diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, as well as childhood cancers.
If you give your baby this unique food, his or her body will function in a healthier way in all aspects.
Therefore, let us all endeavour to spread the good news about breastfeeding, support mothers to continue breastfeeding and call on governments to look at the Maternity laws to help increase the rate and duration of breastfeeding.
The Mirror Doctor is a member of the Paediatric Society of Ghana and the Director of Medical Affairs for Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
