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: The Superior Infant Food |
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BREAST MILK : The Superior Infant
Food |
Only human breast milk is uniquely designed for human babies. It is not a
simple chemical formula but a living dynamic liquid. Cow's milk, goats milk and
soy derived formulas are all an attempt to mimic the superior qualities of
breast milk. Others mammals have different growth rates which are reflected in
the composition of their milk. For example, a calf will double its birth weight
in just 47 days, a goat's kid in 19 and a lamb in 10 days, but most human babies
will take 180 days. Essential proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins need to be
modified, added or refined and still fall short of the desired breast milk
standard.
Breast milk is a constantly changing food that adjusts to the age and needs of a
baby. The composition of breast milk is never constant; the amount of protein,
fat, sugar and other components change throughout the day as well as during each
feed. The milk you produce if your baby is born premature is different from that
produced for a full term infant. The first milk produced is colostrum; this is
yellow and creamy in appearance and produced in relatively small amounts but is
exactly matched to baby's needs and no supplements are required in the majority
of cases. Colostrum contains a high ash content and higher concentrations of
protein, sodium chloride and fat soluble vitamins and minerals than mature milk.
Colostrum has a lower fat content but is rich in antibodies that resist
infection. Colostrum also acts as a laxative that helps the passage of baby's
first stools (thick black green meconium) and thus is important to help avoid
jaundice. Even dairy farmers are required by law to feed calves the cow's
colostrum for the first two or three days. After the first few days your milk
will gradually change from colostrum to milk that appears thinner and sometimes
slightly bluish in colour. This is called transitional milk. In two to three
weeks the milk becomes mature, much paler and more watery in comparison to
colostrum. Some women may be concerned that their milk is not rich enough to
satisfy their baby but it is all your baby requires for the next four to six
months.
Proteins are made of animo acids and these must be present in certain
proportions and combinations to work effectively. If there is an imbalance the
baby's body must work hard to get rid of the excess or to make up the deficit.
For example, Taurine, an animo acid found in large quantities in human milk but
minimally in unmodified cow's milk, is an essential ingredient for the
development of brain tissue and the retina and must be added to the formula.
Fats provide energy and in the human milk amounts vary between individuals and
during the day. The fat content of the milk will change in each breast even
during one feed. The foremilk is higher in volume but lower in calories.
Consumption of the hindmilk provides a greater proportion of fat, which
satisfies a baby for longer, which is why it is often recommended to finish one
breast before switching to the other side. Because the fat content is not
predetermined like infant formula, this means a breastfeeding baby will have a
variable appetite and needs to be fed according to demand rather than a
scheduled feed of a specified time at each breast. Time limits could result in
some babies having their calorie intake significantly curtailed. It is also
recognised now that interference with spontaneous feeding may result in the baby
being deprived of essential vitamins. For example vitamin K is especially
concentrated in colostrum and hindmilk and if the breastfeeding is being
restricted this make explain the increased incidence of haemorrhagic disease of
the new born amongst breast fed babies. The fat content of human milk is
absorbed and utilised with a remarkable efficiency because of a fat digesting
enzyme in the mother's milk. If fats do not match a baby's requirements and
cannot be absorbed they must be excreted which may deplete the baby of essential
minerals such as calcium which binds with fat. The wrong kinds of fats can also
deprive the baby of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids essential for
complete nerve development.
Lactose or milk sugar is a source of energy, which enhances the absorption of
essential minerals. It also promotes the growth of the desirable bacteria
Lactobacillus Bifidus in the intestinal gut which protects from diarrhoea. This
bacteria is also responsible for the odour of breast fed babies' stools- much
less offensive than formula fed babies.
Vitamins and minerals are organic substances present in small amounts in the
natural food sources that are essential for normal metabolism and growth. In
breast milk the proportions are the best and most balanced for baby. Although
there is only a small amount of iron in breast milk it is absorbed and utilised
extremely well because of two special proteins, Lactoferrin and Transferrin,
present in breast milk that scoop up the iron in baby's gut. This binds the iron
in such a way that prevents iron being available to potentially harmful bacteria
such as E-Coli. If too much iron is available then the surplus enables the
harmful bacteria to multiply and diarrhoea can result. The amount of iron in
breast milk is complemented by the stores baby has acquired, particularly during
the last month of pregnancy and at birth. If the umbilical chord is not clamped
until it has stopped pulsating and the baby receives his/her full quota of chord
blood, this extra volume of iron rich cells are broken down and added to the
infant's store of iron. Calcium and phosphorous are two major minerals found in
milk and need to be considered together. Cow's milk has a much higher levels of
calcium and phosphorus than breast milk. This is because a calf must start
walking from birth, but these minerals must be reduced in formula otherwise they
may overburden the infants system, especially the kidneys. Breast milk has less
zinc than cow's milk but what is present is better absorbed. Likewise, other
minerals such as copper and manganese have significantly better biological
availability in human milk. So although the amounts have been modified in
formula, there is a mis-match between what is available and what is used.
Unlike formula human milk provides a variety of anti-microbial factors that
protect against infection such as immunoglobulins. It also contains hormones and
growth factors that are not available in formula.
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Source:
http://www.breast.co.nz/Feature.cfm?wpid=3323
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