1. Helps the infant fight infection and diseases like ear infections, meningitis, diarrhea and respiratory infections. It is a boon for the premature baby. It acts as a protective shield against allergies, asthma, and obesity.

2. Is easily assimilated by the infants and child's body due to the perfect combination of protein (whey and casein), lactose and fat.

3. Nutritional profile of breast milk in terms of calories, vitamins, and minerals is the BEST for the infant as it has the perfect proportion of them all. The same is not true for commercial mixtures as the complex bio-molecules present in breast milk cannot be copied in the lab and put in the mixture.

4. The uniqueness and precious nature of breast milk is enhanced by the fact that it is an asset given by nature and has no price. According to researchers, infants receiving breast milk exclusively for 4 or more months have 40% fewer episodes of ear infections. In a case study published in the April 1999 issue of the journal Pediatrics, researchers determined that infants who were never breastfed would incur additional medical costs of $331 to $475 per year.

5. Breastfeeding is also an antidote for finicky children as due to the increasing demands for energy on the mother she has an extra calorie of 500 kcals in the day. This implies that in order to compensate for this deficit she has to take a variety of foods. The end result is that the infant is exposed to so many food tastes through the mothers' milk that they develop a broad spectrum of taste preferences and so that is how children grow up to eat a variety of foods.

5. Breastfeeding is also an antidote for finicky children as due to the increasing demands for energy on the mother she has an extra calorie of 500 kcals in the day. This implies that in order to compensate for this deficit she has to take a variety of foods. The end result is that the infant is exposed to so many food tastes through the mothers' milk that they develop a broad spectrum of taste preferences and so that is how children grow up to eat a variety of foods.

6. The best bet for breast milk is the "just perfect" nature which suits the infant best. There is no need to worry about infection or temperature or freshness and the likes.

7. There are numerous health benefits both for the mother and the child if breastfeeding is resorted to. Studies have indicated that breastfed infants are less prone to childhood obesity than others. Additionally, breast-fed infants have a higher IQ than those that are not. Statistics reveal that children breastfed for a period of 6 months and alone, exclusively, possess a 5 to 10 points higher IQ than formula-fed infants. Talking in terms of the mother, the act of breastfeeding is especially beneficial as it helps to burn calories, which results in weight reduction. It is also known to help in the process of shrinking the uterus. Additionally, studies have indicated that nursing mothers who breastfeed have lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer, decreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.

8. The other aspect is psychological security. Breast-fed infants are closer to their mothers and feel secure with them more than others. There is a special feeling of bonding between them.

All this said and done, the question that arises here is how to bridge the gap and strike a balance between problems of nursing mothers and the absolute indispensability of breast milk for the child. The idea is to be educated about how to handle breast milk and store it properly as well as know in what condition and shape it has to be transported. The ideal container for storing milk is in hard (plastic and glass) or soft (plastic) containers. The basic idea behind choosing the right container is protecting the milk and preserving all its valuable components intact and seeing how convenient it would be to the user. The best bet would be to invest in plastic bags specially designed for freezing expressed human milk. Many companies are manufacturing them these days. According to research glass or hard-sided plastic containers (the kind of plastic that is clear, not cloudy) provide the best protection for nutrients and immunities. Another point of concern is the shelf life of human milk. Scientists are of the opinion that when human milk is frozen it destroys some of the immune properties in it, therefore it is best if the baby is given fresh milk-milk that has been expressed and then refrigerated.

Location of storage	Storage temperature (degrees Centigrade)	Duration
Room temperature	15 degrees C	24 hours
Room temperature	19-22 degrees C	10 hours
Room temperature	25 degrees C	4-6 hours
Refrigerator	0-4 degrees C	8 days
Freezer		2 weeks
Self-contained freezer unit of a refrigerator		3-4 months
Separate deep freeze with a constant temperature	-19 degrees C	6 months or longer

Another interesting fact is that human milk stored in the refrigerator for eight days actually has lower bacterial levels than freshly expressed milk. When the time for transportation arises it is best to do it in insulated containers, so that the condition of the milk remains the same.

Therefore it is a very convenient and plausible exercise to be able to feed your child and nurse the child along with other pressing demands. Thus, in this breastfeeding week let us pledge to take on the mantle to pass on the baton of promotion of breastfeeding and make our future generations healthier individuals.

References:

Authored by: Ms. Avantina Sharma

Reviewed by: Mrs. Mohana Narayanan