Every new mother has to make the decision whether to breastfeed or formula-feed her newborn. It turns out breastfeeding provides several benefits for both the mother and her baby, but one I found most interesting was its positive effect on the innate immunity. The innate immune response can be activated within minutes, and is our body's first line of defense when it comes to fighting off pathogens. When a baby is born they are very susceptible to infection, since they have yet to develop their immune system.
The composition of breastmilk is dynamic and therefore it changes based on the infant's needs and stage of development. For instance, colostrum describes the first few secretions and contains a high concentration of human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) and lactoferrin. HMOs are capable of binding pathogens directly without invoking an inflammatory response, and are also important in establishing a healthy microbiome (Cacho & Lawrence, 2017). Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that ultimately functions to mature the lymphocyte cells of the immune system and are antibacterial in nature (Cacho & Lawrence, 2017). The high concentration of these components in the first few feeds commences the formation of the newborn's innate immune system.
If a breastfed baby becomes ill, there is a significant increase in the number of white blood cells, also known as lymphocytes, delivered to the baby in breast milk. The most notable lymphocyte that increases its percent composition of the milk is macrophages, a cell of the innate immune system. Further, the mother has receptors to sense pathogens from backwashed milk. If a pathogen is detected, specific antibodies are generated in the mother and are transferred to the baby through the breastmilk (Cabinian et al., 2016).
The benefits of breastfeeding in regards to the ability of the immune system continue to flourish even when the newborn grows older. The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ of the immune system, and a larger thymus gland is directly related to a greater production of lymphocytes. Research has found evidence that newborns who breastfed exclusively for at least 4 months had a larger thymus gland than those who did not (Jackson & Nazar, 2006).
References:
Cabinian, A., Sinsimer, D., Tang, M., Zumba, O., Mehta, H., Toma, A., Sant'Angelo, D., Laouar, Y., & Laouar, A. (2016). Transfer of Maternal Immune Cells by Breastfeeding: Maternal Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Present in Breast Milk Localize in the Peyer's Patches of the Nursed Infant. PloS one, 11(6), e0156762. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156762
Cacho, N. T., & Lawrence, R. M. (2017). Innate Immunity and Breast Milk. Frontiers in immunology, 8, 584. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00584
Jackson KM, Nazar AM. Breastfeeding, the Immune Response, and Long-term Health. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2006;106(4):203–207.
Breast feeding is magical for both the mother and the baby. Babies that have been breastfed have shown better protection against serious diseases like cancer or diabetes type 2. A normal thing to worry about for a mother would be that the baby does not receive enough nutrients during breastfeeding. However, the milk that the mother produces changes depending on many factors like, the time of the day, frequency, and most importantly, the age of the baby (Littleton & Richardson, 2019). It also protects the baby against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which is an unexplained death of babies from 1 month to 1 year old.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, breastfeeding is also good for mothers since it helps them shrink their uterus, burn calories, and be less likely to develop diseases like diabetes type 2 or breast cancer. The time when the mother wants to stop breast feeding is based on personal decision, but it usually happens after 6 to 12 months postpartum. Breast feeding looks more like a miracle of evolution that helps the newborn and mother be stronger and healthier (Littleton & Richardson, 2019).
Sources:
Littleton, K., IBCLC, & Richardson, J. H., BSN, RN, IBCLC (Eds.). (2019, November). Breastfeeding FAQs: How Much and How Often (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/breastfeed-often.html
Why is Breastfeeding Important for your Baby? (2015, December). Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/breastfeeding/importance.htm