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When we are born we find ourselves at the mercy of nature, unable to take care of ourselves. Our life depends on the mother who brought us into this world and who nourishes us with milk from her own body.
Lactation refers to the production of milk by the mother's body to feed an infant. This process is the same for all mammals, whether human or animal. Mother's milk has been proven to be the best source of nourishment for babies.
Babies are born with a sucking reflex which helps them suck and swallow their mothers' milk.
During the third month of a woman's pregnancy her body produces hormones which encourage the growth of the milk duct system in the breast. Around the fifth or sixth month the woman's breasts are ready to produce milk. The composition of breast milk depends very much on what the woman eats and also on the environment she lives in.
Benefits of breast-feeding for the mother:
- Feeding releases hormones which relax the mother and makes her feel more nurturing towards the baby.
- It makes the uterus contract and decreases mate
al bleeding.
- It lessens the risk of certain diseases, such as breast cancer.
Benefits of breast-feeding for the infant:
- Encourages proper development of the infant's teeth and speech organs.
- Helps prevent diseases and lowers the risk of some of the following diseases:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Breast cancer
- Diabetes
- Eczema
- Obesity
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