18-human breast milk- advantages

COMPOSITION OF BREAST MILK :

WATER ---------------- 87 % -- 86 % ( IN COLOSTRUM )

CARBOHYDRATE - 7.5 %-- 3.2 % (IN COLOSTRUM )

FAT-----------------------3.2 %-- 2.3 % ( IN COLOSTRUM )

PROTEIN --------------1.2 %-- 8.6 % (IN COLOSTRUM )

- THE COLOSTRUM IS THE DEEP YELLOW SEROUS FLUID SECRETED BY THE BREASTS WHICH STARTS

DURING PREGNANCY AND IS SECRETED TILL TWO DAYS AFTER DELIVERY . ALSO CALLED FIRST MILK OR

BEESTINGS.

ADVANTAGES OF BREAST MILK --------

MATERNAL ADVANTAGES :

1-maternal bonding

2-less cost than substitute products

3-more appropriate child spacing due to a decrease in fertility

4-portable and resists spoilage while in the breast .

FETAL ADVANTAGES :

1-infant bonding

2-decreased incidence of diarrhea , wheezing bronchitis , necrotizing enterocolitis

3-bactericidal effect of lysozyme

4-presence of c3 and c4 components of the complement,lactoferin , secretory Ig A
and small amounts of Ig M and Ig G .

5-lower morbidity in the first year of life

6-bifidus factor stimulates the growth of L .bifidus in the gut.

7-Iron better absorbed and less anaemia found

8- lower incidence of tetany due to calcium/phosphorus ratio

9- less obesity and lesser chances of marasmus .

10-more digestible

11- decrease in food allergy compared to cows milk ( which has high beta - lactoglobulin )

12-composition tailor made for organ development ( renal function ) and growth (term compared with premature infant )
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