Go Ahead, Tell Her To Breastfeed

Now that we are empty nesters, it is easier to fondly reminisce about how fast it all went; the diapers, the endless sporting events, the agonizing teen years. Without a doubt, the first year was one of my favorites.  Babies sleep a lot and look so angelic when they do.  They also poop a lot, and eat often.  Breast feeding became the best time of my day. When I started  to nourish my first child this way, it was not easy.  By the third month, the whole process became joyful. The act was one of the greatest memories of my motherhood.  The intense emotions I felt when we shared these moments was unforgettable.

It seems that the scientists are finding reasons to agree with me. The University of Illinois scientists published an article on their findings citing the effects of breast milk on the intestinal track of infants. There were 32 infants in the study, with 12 being breast fed and 10 on formulas. The conclusion showed that there was a significant difference between human milk and store bought formulas. Go figure. The mother’s breast milk had a clear advantage in that it “produced genetic pathways” which later resulted in reducing the risk of numerous illnesses.

In addition the study found that the intestinal track of a newborn undergoes significant changes and responds to breast milk more easily than formulas. It appears it is the bioactive parts that drive the importance of the mother’s milk. When children are born, their bodies must learn to differentiate between good and bad bacteria and learn which to fight or reject. This is how food allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and other illnesses start to develop. By studying the bacteria, the scientists were able to track the development of the intestines. The conclusion was that the milk aided in the development of the intestine.

One minor detriment due to feeding breast milk was those babies had a higher incidence of oxygen deprivation which could lead to weaker lungs and a higher mortality rate. Maybe Moms are holding their babies a bit too tight? At any rate, for me, the most important aspect of the choice was the psychological effects of the choice for both me and my children. It makes sense that our choices and beliefs can affect our children in so many ways. The next step is to find a way to reproduce the genes of human milk and add it to formulas.  Any takers?  Sounds daunting to me.