BREAST FEEDING AND THE MODERN WOMAN

          I metamorphosed from a woman to a mother on 15^th Oct 2010 when my angel Sanskriti was born. I had anticipated this transformation when I conceived her but when it finally happened, on the day in the operation theatre when I heard her crying for the first time, I could not believe my ears. Motherhood is every woman’s dream. It makes a woman complete, enhances her self confidence and makes her feel the most important person in the world.

          A plethora of hormonal changes take place when a woman conceives. These changes continue both throughout pregnancy as well as the post partum period. As soon as the baby is delivered, there is a surge of a hormone, known as “oxytocin”, which when released, helps contract the uterus and assists its regression to the erstwhile original size. Moreover, it stimulates the breasts to secrete milk. As the baby suckles, the nerve endings in the nipple and areola get stimulated and send signals to the brain to release the hormones, oxytocin and prolactin. Oxytocin triggers the “let down” of milk (known as “let down reflex”), while Prolactin stimulates the production of milk in the alveoli. The supply of milk from the breast works on a supply and demand basis. As the requirement of the baby increases, more and more amounts of milk are produced.

          There is no better substitute to breast milk. The essence of breast milk has been established through experience and careful studies over the years. It has been proved that the breast milk provides all the food, water and essential nutrients required by a baby in the initial 4-6 months. The initial secretion from the breast known as colostrum, is released in the first 2-3 days. It has a rich golden-yellowish hue and is a unique and invaluable food for the baby. It is a rich source of protein, fat, minerals and vitamins and more importantly, antibodies, which provide immunity to the baby and help to build a strong immune system. It also acts as a laxative and helps to clear meconium, which is composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus. In the yesteryears, colostrum was considered harmful and discarded but it has now been proven beyond doubt that it is the most important component of breast milk and must be given to the new born.

          Colostrum changes to transitional milk in a few days and then to mature milk in a few weeks. Mature milk is initially blue in colour and turns white over a period of time as the fat component increases. Mature milk has two components – fore milk and hind milk. Fore milk is thin and watery and low on calories and fat. Hind milk is thick and rich in fat. Fore milk quenches the baby’s thirst and hind milk satisfies her hunger. It is advisable to empty one breast before the baby is offered the other one so as to empty the hind milk which is a rich source of protein and fat.

         Needless to say, breast milk has its own advantages. To enumerate a few :–

• It is sterile and the baby does not catch any gut infection from it.
• It does not need to be warmed up and is maintained at body temperature as required by the baby.
• It is less expensive than formula feed.
• It satisfies the suckling instinct of the baby.
• It establishes a bond between the mother and baby.
• It provides a sense of security and warmth to the baby.
• It provides immunity to the baby and provides all desired nutrients.
• Breast milk has low iron content but very well absorbed.
• The baby can suckle as long as she is hungry and is saved from being under or over fed.
• Thumb sucking is less frequent in breast fed babies.
• It saves the time involved in washing and cleaning bottles and preparing and warming formula milk.
• It helps in regression of the uterus and helps to tone abdominal muscles. This helps the mother to get back to her pre-pregnancy shape.
• It reduces the risk of breast cancer in woman.
• It has been proven through various studies that exclusively breast fed babies have more IQ than the formula fed ones.
• Incidence of obesity is lesser in breast fed babies than in formula fed ones.
• The incidence of colic is much less in breast fed babies.

       It is a worrying trend these days that women do not want to breast feed their babies. They are apprehensive that breast feeding will render their breasts lax and less appealing. Moreover, they have to go to work which makes it inconvenient to breast feed the baby. The baby is taken care of by nannies or by other family members. Work related exhaustion also reduces the supply of breast milk and does not satiate the baby’s hunger. Thus, such babies become more and more dependent on formula milk. Some of these circumstances are unavoidable but it is advisable that mothers should breast feed their babies.

         

          The quantity of breast milk can be increased by increasing fluid intake. One should reduce the consumption of aerated beverages and alcohol. The breast feeding mother needs an extra 500 calories over and above her pre-pregnancy diet. The diet should be balanced and should contain sufficient protein and calcium.

         

          There is no better substitute to mother’s milk. The best way for a mother to connect with her baby is to hold her in her arms and feed her.

          ……..there is no relation in this world as special as that between a mother and a child. I feel it every moment I spend with Sanskriti…..

          Thinking that baby formula is as good as breast milk is believing that thirty years of technology is superior to three million years of nature's evolution. Countless women have regained trust in their bodies through nursing their children, even if they weren't sure at first that   they could do it. It is an act of female power, and I think of it as feminism in its purest form.

                                                                                ~Christine Northrup