Many mothers avoid breast feeding their babies these days for various reasons. Is this okay for the health of the baby?
Brain development of a child is very important and for that mother`s milk or human milk plays an important role. Point is that the baby`s cognitive abilities get shaped by human milk. It is worthy to note that human milk has got bioactive compounds, essential nutrients, and growth factors etc.
When a baby drinks human milk, then there are numerous health benefits for the baby. These are
Full of essential carbohydrates:
Lactose is present as the essential carbohydrate in human milk. This lactose is a disaccharide and a great source of slow release energy. As a result, there would be modelling effects on the gut flora and brain development of the baby etc.
Anti-inflammatory properties:
The inflammation in the gut and lungs would get lowered due to anti-inflammatory components present in the human milk. These components are lactoferrin and transforming growth factor- beta or TGF-Beta.
Supports synapse formation:
The presence of myo-inositol in the human milk would do wonders for the baby. Point to be noted is that myo-inositol would increase the number and size of synaptic connections between the neurons and by this neural connectivity would get increased. For brain communication, processing information and overall cognitive functions etc, these connections play a huge role.
Rich in human milk oligosaccharides or HMO:
There are nearly 200 types of HMO present in the human milk and these supply fucose and sialic acid. These 2 play an important part in memory and learning. It is believed that sialic acid rich HMO helps in the formation of synapse and this would support neurodevelopment in the babies.
Rich in essential fatty acids:
The physiological process like growth and immunological response of the baby would be enhanced by the lipid which is the main source of energy present in the human milk. It must be taken into note that lipids are rich in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids or LCPUFNA like DHA and ARA and these play a vital role in the physiological processes.
Enhanced cognitive development:
The presence of sphingomyelin lipids in the mothers or human milk would play an important role in the myelin formation. This would further help in increased cognitive development in the baby.