Benefits of Breast Feeding for at Least Six Months to a Year
Benefits of Breast Feeding for at Least Six Months to a Year
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Abstract
Human milk serves as an ideal food for infants because of its nutritional composition. It also contains factors that boost the immunity of the infant to infections and it is less likely to cause allergic reactions (Shelov & American Academy of Pediatrics, 1991). Approximately, nursing mothers breastfeed 44 percent of infants at birth in the U.S. By 6 months, only 11 percent of infants are receiving breast milk and only 2 percent infants get breast milk by age of one. These figures show a decline in the numbers of breastfeeding mothers. This can be attributed to lack of proper knowledge to help them appreciate breastfeeding past the age of three. There are benefits of breastfeeding an infant, both to the mother and infant and indirectly to the economy of a country or state.
Benefits of Breast Feeding for at Least Six Months to a Year
In the first year of life, the mother 's milk should keep on being the key source of food and should at least give between one third and one half of the average total energy intake. Nursing mothers should consider this especially towards the end of 24 months of life (Michaelsen & World Health Organization, 2000). Major ingredients of human milk are sugar (lactose), easily digestible protein (casein and whey), and fat (digestible fatty acids), and breast milk has properly balanced constituents to suit the nutritional requirements of the baby. In addition, there are numerous vitamins, enzymes and minerals that aid the digestive process. Formulas only approximate this combination and they cannot provide the enzymes, antibodies, and other valuable ingredients found in breast milk.
Human milk is relatively low in cost and readily available. Breastfeeding mothers should increase their caloric intake, and the cost here is just a third of what one could spend on formulas. As
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Abstract
Human milk serves as an ideal food for infants because of its nutritional composition. It also contains factors that boost the immunity of the infant to infections and it is less likely to cause allergic reactions (Shelov & American Academy of Pediatrics, 1991). Approximately, nursing mothers breastfeed 44 percent of infants at birth in the U.S. By 6 months, only 11 percent of infants are receiving breast milk and only 2 percent infants get breast milk by age of one. These figures show a decline in the numbers of breastfeeding mothers. This can be attributed to lack of proper knowledge to help them appreciate breastfeeding past the age of three. There are benefits of breastfeeding an infant, both to the mother and infant and indirectly to the economy of a country or state.
Benefits of Breast Feeding for at Least Six Months to a Year
In the first year of life, the mother 's milk should keep on being the key source of food and should at least give between one third and one half of the average total energy intake. Nursing mothers should consider this especially towards the end of 24 months of life (Michaelsen & World Health Organization, 2000). Major ingredients of human milk are sugar (lactose), easily digestible protein (casein and whey), and fat (digestible fatty acids), and breast milk has properly balanced constituents to suit the nutritional requirements of the baby. In addition, there are numerous vitamins, enzymes and minerals that aid the digestive process. Formulas only approximate this combination and they cannot provide the enzymes, antibodies, and other valuable ingredients found in breast milk.
Human milk is relatively low in cost and readily available. Breastfeeding mothers should increase their caloric intake, and the cost here is just a third of what one could spend on formulas. As
References: Arizona Daily Star (2010). Breast-feeding could save 900 babies a year. www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding DeBruyne, L. K., Pinna, K., & Whitney, E. N. (2012). Nutrition and diet therapy. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth / Cengage Learning. Michaelsen, K. F., & World Health Organization. (2000). Feeding and nutrition of infants and young children: Guidelines for the WHO European Region, with emphasis on the former Soviet countries. Copenhagen, Denmark: WHO Regional office for Shelov, S. P., & American Academy of Pediatrics. (1991). Caring for your baby and young child: Birth to age 5. New York: Bantam Books.