Health benefits of breastfeeding
There has been significant reliable evidence produced over recent years to show that breastfeeding has important advantages for both infant and mother, even in the industrialised countries of the world.
Artificially-fed babies are at greater risk of:
- gastro-intestinal infection
- respiratory infectionsnecrotising enterocolitis
- urinary tract infections
- ear infections
- allergic disease (eczema, asthma and wheezing)
- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
and breastfed babies may have better:
Components of breastmilk, formula and cow’s milk.
Present in human milk/ 100ml |
Effect |
Presence in formula or cow’s milk /100ml |
Components with protective properties |
Cow’s milk |
Formula |
Maternal sIgA
50-100mg |
Protection against specific pathogens found in the mother and child’s environment. Endogenous production of sIgA does not begin until several weeks after birth. |
Absent |
Maternal white cells |
Probable protection against infection, and persist in the offspring for many years. |
Absent |
Lactoferrin
500-600mg |
Wide range of synergistic protective properties |
Low levels, effects on human infants uncertain |
Some contain added bovine lactoferrin |
Lysozyme
5-25mg |
Lysis of susceptible bacteria |
Very low levels |
Absent |
Milk lipids |
Can inhibit binding of pathogens to host cells, and cause lysis of enveloped pathogens |
Less effective in cow’s milk and formula |
Oligosaccharides
100-150mg |
Inhibit pathogen binding |
V small amount. 0.005/100ml |
Currently absent. |
Components with maturative properties |
Growth factors eg. Epidermal growth factor |
Promotes maturation. EGF promotes maturation of gut increasing capacity for digestion and absorption and reducing permeability. |
Very small amount |
Absent |
Cytokines |
Promote development immune system |
Not-known, may be species specific. |
Components which compensate/augment |
BSSL |
Highly efficient fat digesting enzyme augments, and compensates for low levels of endogenous lipase production. |
Absent |
Amylase |
Possibly augments infants low level of endogenous production for <2 years, functional role unclear. |
Absent |
Hormones |
May condition maturation of the infant at a time when infants endocrine system is not fully developed |
Absent - may be species specific |
Role of the Father in the Breastfeeding
A common complaint from fathers of breastfed babies is that they tend to feel excluded from the intimacy of the nursing dyad. But fathers actually have tremendous potential to either facilitate or undermine the success of breastfeeding. Many men mistakenly believe that breastfeeding is strictly confined to women and babies. First step in equipping fathers to help their breastfeeding partners.
Setting the Positive Family Environment
If he views breastfeeding as making a positive difference in the health and well-being of his baby and as a high priority for his partner and child, this attitude will set the desired environment for achieving. The first thing a father can do to promote success is to create a positive family atmosphere toward breastfeeding.But there's a big difference between a man who agrees to let his partner breastfeed and one who deliberately creates an atmosphere of success.
Giving Support and Encouragement
Breastfeeding mothers harbor additional fears about the adequacy of their milk supply or the correctness of their breastfeeding technique, or their ability to overcome lactation problems. Fathers can play a key role in bolstering their breastfeeding partner's confidence by showering them with compliments, praising their efforts, and offering words of encouragement. This support role can be particularly difficult when a woman is profoundly tired and discouraged.
Other times, you might be able to mobilize some specific help for a breastfeeding problem by calling the doctor, a lactation consultant, the hospital where your baby was born.
A loving father's sincere attempt to participate in infant care is more important than whether the clothing snaps are in proper alignment. Allow Dad opportunities to soothe or entertain the baby or sing her to sleep. Worry less about whether he is "doing things right," so long as he is "doing the right thing." |
