Do you breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is the only way to properly feed infants in the first six months of their lives. Natural feeding enhances health and protects against the development of many diseases in childhood, as well as in adulthood. The promotion and protection of breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Breastfeeding is an ideal food source for newborns and infants, enabling their proper development. One of the greatest disturbances in the human natural environment is the replacement of mother's milk with cow's milk mixtures. Only the food produced by a woman's mammary gland contains enough protein, fats, carbohydrates and mineral salts, in the right proportions and best suited to the needs of the child's developing organism.

The main protein of milk – casein – in cow's milk it is present in ten times higher concentration and has a structure different from that of human milk casein. Also, other milk proteins are not the same in human and cow's milk. The digestive tract of a little man is prepared to digest female food. The different species of cow's milk is digested worse and slower. For this reason, babies who are fed cow's milk formula are more likely to become constipated, flatulence and. intestinal colic. Colic is the pain in the abdomen that causes an infant to scream and become anxious. The belly suddenly becomes, the child does not respond to hugs and caresses. This state lasts from several minutes to several hours. The most common cause of colic is excessive distension of the intestinal wall, caused by their motor immaturity or excessive intake of air. Colic can appear as early as in 3-4 week of the child's life. So let's have ready-to-use preparations in advance, which, when used prophylactically, can prevent colic attacks or, if it occurs, significantly alleviate symptoms.

Certain milk proteins (beta-laktoglobuliny) are strong allergens, and more of them in cow's milk may cause allergy to cow's milk protein (these allergens are found in trace amounts in human milk). Assesses itself, that may even be the case 7% artificially fed children. A dangerous complication that may develop as a result of allergy is the malabsorption syndrome. Although overall the amount of protein in human milk is lower, the free amino acid content is greater, therefore their availability and absorption are better. The share of individual amino acids in the digested cow's milk protein is also different. As a result, breastfed babies receive a pool of amino acids that is more suited to their needs. Let us remind you, that they are bricks, from which the child's body builds its tissues. In this period of the fastest growth, it is difficult to overestimate the role of the appropriate quality of building materials. The iron in human milk is absorbed in 70%, and from artificial milk – only in 10-20%.

Artificially fed babies feel stronger thirst, signal them to cry and receive another portion of the formula, instead of e.g.. dill tea. This is a common mistake. As a result, metabolic disturbances may appear, leading to pathological obesity. In contrast, breastfed infants are almost never obese. They also do not require the first 4-6 months of refilling life. A woman's food provides not only the right amount of building and energy ingredients, but also a sufficient volume of fluids and minerals. It can and should be administered as often as desired, depending on the child's needs. This is what on-demand feeding is all about. In the event of diarrhea or fever, there is usually no need for additional fluid intake, the baby should receive more breast milk.

Moreover, natural feeding promotes the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by the correct bacterial flora, especially if the first feed is done shortly after birth. As a result it was observed, that infants are artificially fed 20 They are times more likely to suffer from diarrhea and it is more severe. Other infectious diseases are also more common in them, e.g.. respiratory tract infections are four times more common.
In the milk of a woman – especially in colostrum and in transitional milk – anti-disease agents are present in large numbers (immunoglobulins, macrophages, lymphocytes and lysozyme).
Immunoglobulins are produced as a response by the mother's immune system to specific bacteria and viruses (pathogens), with which she comes into contact. Excreted into food, they protect the baby, who are exposed to the same pathogens while staying with their mother, and his immune system is not yet fully functional. Seems, that natural nutrition, beyond the protective effect, it also affects the proper development of the human immune system.
There are grounds for the claim, that they occur less frequently in people who are breastfed: allergy, obesity, tendency to colds, pneumonia and bronchitis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, kidney stones, caries, malocclusion, as well as neoplastic diseases.

Natural feeding, ensuring the closeness of mother and child, influences the formation of proper emotional bonds and personality development. Demonstrated, that breastfed babies achieve better learning outcomes at school age.
This short comparison shows, that the mother's food in terms of quality and quantity is best suited to the needs of the developing organism of the infant and its ability to assimilate and metabolize food. It has an impact on the proper formation of complex metabolic processes, immune responses and human emotional development, which pays off throughout life.
Artificial feeding should be limited to exceptional circumstances, but they also happen. In these cases, the solution is to feed cow's milk mixtures. Currently produced artificial milk for infants is specially modified, so that its composition is as close as possible to breast milk and does not cause allergies and food intolerances. However, it never equals breast milk and should not be administered without sufficient justification. Artificial feeding should be carried out strictly according to the doctor's recommendations and under his supervision.

Whether the mother benefits from breastfeeding?

For medical reasons, emotional, as well as socioeconomic, breastfeeding is definitely beneficial to the mother. Natural feeding:

• It accelerates the collapse of the uterus after childbirth.
• It reduces the likelihood of pregnancy.
• It facilitates the return to pre-pregnancy weight (of course, if a nursing woman does not overeat).
• It reduces the risk of breast cancer.
• It has a positive effect on the emotional state and psyche of mothers.
• It does not require laborious food preparation or being at home at mealtimes.
• Breastfeed is ready to serve at any time and under all circumstances.

The fact is also important, that artificial mixtures are expensive.