Health Tips

The greatest gift from a mother is unconditional love, then followed by breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for approximately the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding, with the introduction of appropriate complementary solids for at least the first year of life and beyond. Many newborns rely on the supply of breastmilk to survive and thrive during their most vulnerable period of life. Surprisingly, breastfeeding does not benefit the babies only -- it is also beneficial for the mothers!

Nutrients Found in Breast Milk

Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains the following amazing nutrients:

I. Proteins

Human breast milk contains two types of proteins, which are whey (60%)  and casein (40%). The larger proportion of whey in human breast milk is the reason that it is easier to be digested by the baby. In contrast, the baby formula sold in the market contains a higher proportion of casein, which may be harder for digestion. 

The proteins in human breast milk play an important role in strengthening the baby’s immunity by providing secretory IgA (an antibody), lysozyme, bifidus factor and lactoferrin. 

II. Fats

Fats are essential for a healthy brain development, eyesight health, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins as well as providing energy. Fats in breast milk exist as long-chain fatty acids.

III. Vitamins

It is crucial for the pregnant women to ensure adequate intake of vitamins as this directly affects the amount of vitamins in the breast milk, which in turn be ingested by the newborn. If you are currently pregnant, you are advised to consult a healthcare professional on the necessary prenatal vitamins intake. 

IV. Lactose

Lactose is a type of carbohydrate that exists in the human breast milk, which provides energy for the baby. Lactose also helps to reduce the harmful bacteria in the stomach as well as improving the absorption of other nutrients such as magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. 

Benefits of breastfeeding for the babies

It is very obvious at this point that human breast milk has tremendous benefits for the babies. Not only does the mother’s breast milk provide adequate energy and nutrients to the baby, it also helps to strengthen immunity, thus fighting off diseases at this most vulnerable stage of human life. For example, in an study from the United Kingdom, infants who were exclusively breastfed for six months had a decreased risk of lower respiratory tract infections than infants who exclusively breastfed for less than four months.

Also, any form of breastfeeding can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, exclusive breastfeeding for a longer duration confers the greatest protection against SIDS.

💡Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old. A diagnosis of SIDS is made if the baby’s death remains unexplained even after a death scene investigation, an autopsy, and a review of the clinical history.

Breastfeeding also provides short-term neurobehavioral benefits to the babies, such as reducing infant crying, increasing blood glucose level and promoting greater cardiorespiratory stability in late preterm infants. The reason is thought to be an early skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn. 

Recent studies have demonstrated that breastfeeding may even confer long-term health benefits for the baby. For instance, in an analysis of two large birth cohorts from Denmark and Norway, children who were never breastfed had a twofold increased risk of type 1 diabetes compared with those who were breastfed for ≥12 month or those who were exclusively breastfed for ≥6 months. It was also shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), dental caries and recurrent acute otitis media among children. 

Fellow mothers, you should breastfeed if you could -- for the baby and yourself as well!

Here are some of the benefits of breastfeeding for the mothers:

1. Reduce risk of blood loss after delivery

Initiation of breastfeeding after delivery stimulates the release of oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to its normal size and reduce blood loss.

2. Reduce risk of postpartum depression 

It was found that longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with reduced risk of postpartum depression. However, it wasn’t clear whether it is the shorter breastfeeding duration that leads to higher risk of depression, or the other way around. 

3. Reduce risks of certain cancers

A large study has found out that for every 12 months of breastfeeding, the relative risk of breast cancer was reduced by 4.3%. The protection effect of breastfeeding against breast cancer is thought to be due to the delay in re-establishment of ovulation. 

Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 30% in a meta-analysis. It was shown that the longer the breastfeeding period, the greater the risk reduction. 

In a meta-analysis of 17 studies including nearly 9000 women with endometrial cancer from several countries, breastfeeding was associated with an 11% reduction. 

4. Reduce risks of cardiovascular disease

Numerous studies have supported that breastfeeding reduced the risks of high blood pressure and also provides greater protection against future heart disease. 

5. Reduce risks of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus

There is overwhelming evidence showing that breastfeeding does lower the risks of developing diabetes among mothers later in life. Even for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), i.e. diabetes develops during pregnancy, breastfeeding may reduce their risk of developing diabetes after pregnancy. 

6. You save money!

This is a no brainer. Breastfeeding saves you the money from buying baby milk formula, which can cost a lot. 

Don’t feel guilty if you can’t breastfeed

In some cases, mothers cannot or should not nurse their babies. Here are some reasons:

• Low breast milk supply

• Taking medication or undergoing medical treatment that is not safe for breastfeeding

• Using illegal drugs 

• HIV-positive (However, in countries where alternative to breastfeeding is not possible, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended)

• Herpes on breast

• Active tuberculosis

• The baby is born with rare genetic conditions that prevent him or her from drinking breast milk, such as classic galactosemia, phenylketonuria, maple syrup urine disease.

Under these circumstances, your doctor should advise you what to do and the appropriate selection of infant milk formula.

Every mother and baby is unique, and so is every breastfeeding situation. If you want to breastfeed, but you're told that you can’t or shouldn’t, it can be devastating. As hard as it may be, try to remember that breastfeeding isn’t the only way to provide nutrition and build a close relationship with your child. 

Your inability to breastfeed your baby does not deny you from being a great mother and having a healthy child. Talk to a healthcare professional if you have any doubts regarding breastfeeding.

Written by

Ms Joyce Toh