THE IMPORTANCE OF BREASTFEEDING AND COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENTATION FOR YOUR BABY
The World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) and the American Medical Association (AMA) stress the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and child.
Breastmilk is the ideal nutrition for your new born and has the ideal ratio of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and enzymes baby requires for its optimal growth and development and helps baby combat harmful bacteria and viruses. Various studies have shown that infants fed exclusively with breastmilk for the first 6 months have fewer ear infections, diarrhoea, rashes and allergies and trips to the doctor than bottle fed babies. Breastfed babies receive the health benefits of both colostrum and breast milk; both are loaded with antibodies and assist with the optimal functioning of the GI tract which in turn means better gut and immune health for baby.
What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the pre-milk or “first milk” that is produced by mothers of mammals and is also sometimes described as “liquid gold” but ultimately it is the perfect first food for baby. Colostrum is a pale yellow milk like substance produced sometimes just prior to and right after birth. The mother’s body starts to produce only colostrum and thereafter switching over to regular breastmilk it is also richer in antibodies (Immunoglobulins) than breastmilk thus helping boost baby’s immunity and protecting baby from pathogens in the environment right from birth.
How is Colostrum different to breast milk?
Colostrum is richer than breast milk, higher in protein and lower in sugar and fat which makes it an easy first food to be digested by baby.
There are several reasons why mom wouldn’t be able to breastfeed ranging from being HIV positive, on certain medication or undergoing chemotherapy etc. If this is the case it then becomes imperative to supplement your babies’ formula with bovine colostrum right from the beginning. Bovine colostrum is one of the safest and most effective colostrum products available.
Bovine Colostrum supplementation may also be especially beneficial for pre-term infants in increasing protein intake, keeping the infant adequately hydrated and supplementing all the nutritional components and antibodies of colostrum to enable the pre-term infant to gain weight and increase immunity.
Benefits of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation for Babies.
· Bovine Colostrum is an direct source of important nutrients for baby
· Bovine Colostrum seals the babies gut preventing food allergies and eczema
· Bovine Colostrum helps protect babies against infection
· Bovine Colostrum’s antibodies help protect babies’ GI tract
· Bovine Colostrum helps stimulate the development of babies’ tissues and organs and repairs the body
Bovine colostrum supplementation is not exclusively just for baby and moms can supplement with bovine colostrum to strengthen their own gut and immune system to help new mom’s better deal with the stress of motherhood.
Ultimately there is nothing better than breastfeeding your infant but bovine colostrum is an excellent addition for mom’s who cannot breastfeed and or currently use formula.