On This St. Valentine's Day: Can You Relate To This?

Breast Feeding: A Labour of Love


“...although it is not the norm in most industrial cultures, UNICEF and the WHO both advise breast-feeding to ‘two years and beyond’” - Jack Newman, M.D., in Scientific American

Mother knows best!
“Breastfeeding is the best thing a mother can give to her child. Though a rigorous task for a mother to breastfeed for six months exclusively and still keep on breastfeeding for up to or even longer, it’s a much easier task at day’s end. It is also the cleanest, safest feed your child can have. There is no need to sterilize, or measure, anything. Further, it has all a baby needs. What more can Mother – and Child – ask for?
“Babies breastfed develop a very strong bond to their mothers and ultimately turn out more compassionate and kind when they become grown-ups, it makes them have a very strong conscience too.
“I have also noticed that the baby teeth without much difficulty may be a little warm, nothing a little Paracetamol will not do the trick to calm! Breastfed babies start teething between 5 months and 8 months, compare that with baby fed formula or mixed (both breast milk and formula) you will have to use all sorts of baby teething drugs to see them through.
“Moreover, breast milk gives babies the immunity they need in the first 6 months of life: it contains all necessary vitamins, minerals and so on as well. Rarely do breastfed babies develop coughs, colds and do not fall ill often, no going to see doctors. Well actually for me have not taken my son to the hospital to be treated for being sick because he has never fallen ill and he is now 10 months old.
“I can also state as a matter of fact that breastfed babies find it easy to start on solids. My son, Funsho, started showing avid interest from 4 months, but I didn’t start him on solids till he turned 6months old, though giving him tit bits from 5 months helped stimulate his appetite. Now he has a very strong and large appetite and he digests easily too.
“Oh, yes, [‘exclusive’] can be done! It’s a sacrifice a mother should consider making for her child ungrudgingly – a labour of love with rewards that money just cannot buy!” (Testimony by Mrs. Moji Lala.)

Colostrum Calling
Also known as lactation and nursing, breastfeeding offers many benefits to the baby. The very first mix that drips after birth – know as colostrums cocktail – is the best welcome party to give a newly-born.
Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients to help your infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler. Some of the nutrients in breast milk also help protect your infant against common childhood illnesses and infections. It also holds benefits for mother’s health, too! Certain types of cancer seem to occur less often in mothers who have breastfed their babies. Breastfeeding has been shown to be superior in every way for mother and baby. There is no longer any denying the God-be-blessed fact.
Long gone are the days when doctors and health practitioners of any type actively promote bottle feeding as a ‘better alternative’. Even health facilities have come to be compliant: There is now incumbent on them to brand themselves as “baby-friendly”. Watch out for the signage. Time and again, Research goes with Nature: Breast is best!

Touch the future…
Breast-milk is more easily digested than formula. It is ideally suited for your baby’s immature digestive system. For instance, 50% of iron in breast-milk is absorbed compared to 4% in iron-fortified formulas.
Breastfed babies have a lower incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Breastfeeding reduces allergies. (Allergies are 7 times more prevalent in formula-fed babies.)
Some studies have shown that breastfed babies have a higher I.Q.
Breast-milk is a living substance that changes with gestational age of baby, stage of lactation, time of day, and growth needs of the infant. No formula can do that!
Breastfed babies get sick less often and when they become ill, it’s less severe; they have a lower risk of diarrhoeal disease, gastrointestinal illness, respiratory disease and lower incidence of otitis media (ear infections)
Breastfed babies have fewer learning and behaviour difficulties
Breastfeeding promotes optimal growth and neurological development
Breastfeeding helps prevent malocclusion and leads to better teeth and jaw development
Breastfeeding enhances visual development in baby.


It’s in Mom’s best interest, too!
Breastfeeding promotes closeness and bonding between Mother and Child.
Breast-milk is free! Even if you include the cost of renting or purchasing a breast pump and dietary supplements, breastfeeding is still much less expensive.
Breastfeeding returns your uterus to non-pregnant size quickly and reduces your risk of haemorrhage and postpartum blood loss.
Breastfeeding is more restful. You have frequent rest periods while nursing; night feeding is easier. You can sleep while nursing; the prolactin in breast milk is a natural tranquilizer.
You don’t have to worry about breast-milk being contaminated at the factory!
You don’t have to worry about improperly mixing your breast-milk.
When you are breastfeeding, your breast-milk is always at the right temperature: no warming, or worrying about it being too hot.
When you breastfeed, your baby’s poop doesn’t stink!
Breast-feeding helps you lose your pregnancy weight faster!
Breastfeeding provides the mother with a hormone-induced contentment
Breastfeeding is protective against cancerous growths (breast, ovarian, cervical)


The crucial role of breast milk with its loads of immunological agents for protecting the newborn infant against an armada of diseases and illnesses is well known, as is its essential role in promoting the development of the infant’s own immune system. But it is less well known that the infant’s immune system does not reach maturity until about 5-6 years of age. This developmental immaturity of the infant’s immune system can serve as a guide to appreciating the developmental immaturity of the infant’s brain with its various structural, neurochemical and electrophysiological processes that extend in development well beyond the 5-6 years of maturity for the immune system.
As has been well said,’ to predict the future, invent (i.e. invest in) it today.’ An African folklore holds that children who are never suckled go on to become brazen, heartless and callous citizens in life. Therefore, in the interest of human love and peace, will all of us who suckled and so have flowing in us the milk of human kindness rise up to toast to human milk for human babies everywhere, every time…Go on, say it: Thanks, Mom. I love you… it’s Valentine!

Please note: There are some cases when it’s better not to breast feed. If you have HIV or active tuberculosis, you should not breast feed because you could give the infection to your baby. Certain medicines, illegal drugs, and alcohol can also pass through the breast milk and cause harm to your baby.
Some women choose not to breastfeed, maybe as a lifestyle choice or through choosing to return to work. There are others who are simply physically unable to do so due to an existing physical condition which may prevent them, even if they wanted to.


Funsho and Mom: Mother knows best…I know!