Breast milk: A medicine cabinet on the chest
Sep 06, 2011
Did you know that breast milk is a medicine cabinet? CECILIA OKOTH talked to Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, the president of Uganda Paediatrics Association and Dr Daniel Tumwine, a paediatrician on the healing power of breast milk:
Did you know that breast milk is a medicine cabinet? CECILIA OKOTH talked to Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, the president of Uganda Paediatrics Association and Dr Daniel Tumwine, a paediatrician on the healing power of breast milk:
Doctors testify that breast milk has antibacterial properties that can heal and protect the baby from getting infections. The milk has immune globulins that contain sufficient proteins, carbohydrates and minerals.
This means breastfeeding your baby protects them from viral infections like cough, flu and measles as well as allergies and bacterial infections.
Breast milk also provides antibodies to boost a baby’s immunity. Sick babies often need to nurse more, so be sure to follow your baby’s cues and give his or her immune system what it needs. The suckling action of breastfeeding also helps develop the muscles in the face and jaw, encouraging correct alignment of the teeth.
Breast milk reduces childhood mortality by up to 19%. Research shows that breast milk decreases a range of infectious diseases like bacterial meningitis, diarrhoea, respiratory tract infections and infections in the large intestines commonly affecting premature and sick babies, the ears and urinary tract.
And yes, it also provides some protection against diabetes, cancers of the blood like lymphoma, leukaemia and Hodgkin disease.
Indeed breast milk is more than just medicine cabinet in a woman’s chest; it is nature’s food basket.
Doctors testify that breast milk has antibacterial properties that can heal and protect the baby from getting infections. The milk has immune globulins that contain sufficient proteins, carbohydrates and minerals.
This means breastfeeding your baby protects them from viral infections like cough, flu and measles as well as allergies and bacterial infections.
Breast milk also provides antibodies to boost a baby’s immunity. Sick babies often need to nurse more, so be sure to follow your baby’s cues and give his or her immune system what it needs. The suckling action of breastfeeding also helps develop the muscles in the face and jaw, encouraging correct alignment of the teeth.
Breast milk reduces childhood mortality by up to 19%. Research shows that breast milk decreases a range of infectious diseases like bacterial meningitis, diarrhoea, respiratory tract infections and infections in the large intestines commonly affecting premature and sick babies, the ears and urinary tract.
And yes, it also provides some protection against diabetes, cancers of the blood like lymphoma, leukaemia and Hodgkin disease.
Indeed breast milk is more than just medicine cabinet in a woman’s chest; it is nature’s food basket.