Amazing Immunology of Breastmilk

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The Amazing Immunology of Breastmilk

By Jane Sheppard

Breastfeeding for as long as possible is the most important thing you can do to ensure your child has a strong immune system. Breastmilk is much more than food. In addition to providing the absolute best nutrition for a growing baby, breastmilk supplies the factors needed to develop strong immunity and protect your baby against disease.

Although they have some antibodies from the placenta of their mother, newborns enter the world largely unprotected. With immature immune systems, they are faced with organisms they have never met before and are at risk for infections. Breastmilk can greatly lower this risk.

La Leche League, an organization that gives expert advice on breastfeeding, provides the following information about breastfeeding and immunity:

"Through your breast milk, you give your baby immunities to illnesses to which you are immune and also those to which you have been exposed. Nursing also allows your baby to give germs to you so that your immune system can respond

and can synthesize antibodies! This means that if your baby has come in contact with something which you have not, (s)he will pass these germs to you at the next nursing; during that feeding, your body will start to manufacture antibodies for that particular germ. By the time the next feeding arrives, your entire immune system will be working to provide immunities for you and your baby. If you are exposed to any bacteria or viruses, your body will be making antibodies against them and these will be in your milk." (La Leche League).

When your baby is sick, it makes sense to nurse him or her more frequently. In addition to providing antibodies and other immune factors, breastmilk is a nourishing calorie-rich fluid, which keeps a baby well hydrated. My daughter intuitively knew to nurse more frequently when she was fighting something off. This frequent nursing managed to keep whatever was trying to invade her body from developing into an actual infection or disease.

Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective against many illnesses, including ear infections, upper and lower respiratory ailments, allergies, intestinal disorders, colds, viruses, staph, strep and e coli infections, diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, many childhood cancers, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, salmonella, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as lifetime protection from crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, some lymphomas, insulin dependent diabetes, and for girls, breast and ovarian cancer (La Leche League).

Breastmilk contains lymphocytes and macrophages, which produce antibodies and other immune factors. It provides lactobacillus bifidus, the "friendly" bacteria that help prevent the growth of dangerous bacteria. Another molecule in breastmilk actually kills harmful bacteria. Some components are even directly anti-inflammatory (Hanson, 1998). In addition to providing protection against pathogenic bacteria, breastmilk contains elements that guard against viruses, fungi and parasites. The positive effects of breastmilk on the immune system are longterm. Evidence shows that this enhanced immune protection remains for years after breastfeeding is discontinued (Hanson 1998). The immunology of breastmilk is quite amazing. Mother Nature definitely knows what she is doing!

It's baffling that some health professionals still believe that there is no benefit from breastmilk to babies after they are six months old. Long-term breastfeeding and natural weaning (letting your child decide when to wean) is by far the healthiest thing you can do. Immune protection continues to improve throughout the duration of breastfeeding (Hanson 1998). The longer you breastfeed, the stronger your child's immune system becomes.

Breastfeeding also adds the loving touch and comfort that is crucial to the emotional well-being of your baby, toddler and preschooler, thus strengthening immunity on another level. Continuing to breastfeed into the preschool years does not make a child dependent on the mother. My daughter decided on her own to quit nursing at age four. This was a gentle, easy transition for her. She is a strong, independent child because she knows she can always get her needs met.

What is Colostrum?
From LaLeche League - http://www.lalecheleague.org
Colostrum is the first milk your breasts produce in the early days of breastfeeding. Highly concentrated in nutrients, it contains substances that will defend your baby against many harmful agents. The concentration of immune factors is
much higher in colostrum than in mature milk.

Colostrum actually works as a natural and 100% safe vaccine. It contains large quantities of an antibody called secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) which is a new substance to the newborn. Before your baby was born, he received the benefit
of another antibody, called IgG, through your placenta. IgG worked through the baby's circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.

Colostrum has an especially important role to play in the baby's gastrointestinal tract. A newborn's intestines are very permeable. Colostrum seals the holes by "painting" the gastrointestinal tract with a barrier, which mostly prevents
foreign substances from penetrating and possibly sensitizing a baby to foods the mother has eaten.

Colostrum also contains high concentrations of leukocytes, protective white cells, which can destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Later, when you are producing mature milk for your baby, the concentrations of the antibodies
in the milk will be lower, but your baby will be taking in much higher volumes of milk. The disease-fighting properties of human milk do not disappear with the colostrum. In fact, as long as your baby receives your milk, he will receive immunological protection against many different viruses and bacteria (LaLeche League).


This article was excerpted from Super Healthy Kids: Strengthening Your Child's Resistance to Disease, by Jane Sheppard, editor and publisher of Healthy Child Online – http://www.healthychild.com