Benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for infants aged 0-6 months

The National Pregnancy and Baby Network is an intelligent pregnancy and infant care service platform sponsored by the Population and Culture Development Center of the National Health Commission under the guidance of the National Health Commission.

We know that breast milk is the best source of nutrition for babies because the nutrients contained in breast milk are optimally bioavailable and meet all the needs of the baby's growth and development within 6 months. Another very important point is that there are rich immune active substances in breast milk, which can enhance and regulate the immunity of infants, thereby reducing the risk of infectious diseases such as colds, diarrhea, pneumonia and other infectious diseases in infants. Moreover, the process of breastfeeding can promote parent-child relationship and promote the development of the child's nervous system, so it is of great benefit to the development of the baby's physical and mental health.

A very important feature of breastfeeding is that breast milk is individualized, and her milk is prepared for her baby. For example, we can see the mother in different stages of lactation, milk from colostrum to transitional milk, to mature milk changes, in this process, the protein content of colostrum is the highest, with the extension of the mother's lactation time, protein has a process of decline. Like lactose, fat, the amount of these in the colostrum is relatively small, because the baby has just been born, his /her digestion and absorption capacity is limited, like lactose is easy to produce gas, fat is not easy to digest, colostrum in these two components are relatively low. As the child's daily age gradually increases, the content level of lactose and fat will gradually increase to meet the needs of the child's growth.

In addition, the milk secreted by premature mothers and full-term mothers is also different, the level of protein in the milk of full-term mothers is basically 1.5 grams per 100 ml, but the protein in the milk of premature mothers can reach more than two grams in colostrum, because she knows that her baby needs to have rapid growth after birth, growth is the need for protein, so in milk, she can provide children with protein levels that match his/her growth needs.

Breastfeeding also has many benefits for moms, not just for children. For example, early breastfeeding can promote uterine contractions and reduce postpartum bleeding for mothers. Long-term breastfeeding can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer in mothers, because the risk of developing such tumors is often related to the endocrine disorders of the mother's internal environment, breastfeeding regulates the transformation of the mother's internal environment, thereby reducing the risk of these tumors, so it is also good for mothers.

Therefore, whether it is from the nutritional value or biological function, breast milk can meet the needs of infants and young children at different stages of growth, which is irreplaceable with formula milk.