Breast milk is the best food for a newborn baby. It naturally contains antibodies against various diseases. Just as an educated mother is the guarantor of an educated nation, a healthy and robust child is also the foundation of a healthy society.
Mother's milk is an invaluable gift from the Creator for a newborn. Just as hosts do not hold back anything in hospitality when a guest arrives and prepare various dishes for them, similarly, how will Allah Almighty hold back on the arrival of a guest who prostrates to Him with angels and jinn?
From the development of the stomach in the mother to the stages of teeth coming out, she has meticulously organized the excellent provision of her innocent angel. Considering the delicate condition of the newborn, it is impossible to create a substitute for the various components in the mother's milk.
However, the one hosting this newborn guest is also committing a violation of divine commands with the right to compensation.
With progress in the world, the practice of breastfeeding has decreased among working mothers. According to a survey by Pakistan National Nutrition, in every five households, one does not breastfeed the newborn. While 48% of mothers breastfeed only up to five months. In Sindh, the rate of breastfeeding infants is relatively higher than other regions, while the province of Punjab has the lowest rate in the country.
Breastfeeding can save the lives of more than seven million children worldwide annually, mostly including infants less than six months old. Mother's milk contains minerals, amino acids, vitamins, and carbohydrates along with nucleotides.
Nucleotides are a named compound that plays an important role in the formation of DNA in the body's cells. In addition to proteins, fatty acids, hormones, bacteria, and sugars are also included. These natural ingredients play a crucial role in the mental and physical development of the child and fulfill its nutritional needs for the first six months.
It is recommended that mothers start breastfeeding within one hour of childbirth and continue giving milk from both breasts every two hours, for about seven to fifteen minutes each time. If there is difficulty in breastfeeding for any reason, milk can be expressed and fed with a spoon, and this milk can be safely stored in the refrigerator for almost two days. While frozen milk can be used for up to six months in the freezer, reheating it may reduce its benefits.
Working women can also store milk in the fridge to feed the child when they are not present. It is the responsibility of the government and other company owners to provide facilities for women to breastfeed their children during work.
Denying a child its fundamental right to breast milk should not be done under any circumstances. If breastfeeding is prohibited due to a medical condition, another woman's milk can be given.
In London, Dr. Natalie Shenker initiated a 'Milk Bank' under the name of the 'Human Milk Foundation', which collects donated milk and ensures its availability to needy children when required.
Different global organizations for children have categorized the duration of breastfeeding differently. Some believe that the child should only be given the mother's milk for the first six months, while others suggest introducing additional feedings after four months.
The duration of breastfeeding depends on cultural and religious considerations in different regions. Women in Africa breastfeed their children for up to four years, and in Islamic countries, there is a general consensus on breastfeeding for approximately two and a half years. In contrast, in the UK, it depends on when the child decides to stop breastfeeding, with an average duration of about twenty-nine months.
Breast milk production begins during pregnancy, and the secretion starts within twenty-four hours of childbirth. After sucking the mother's chest, this process accelerates. Clostrum, a fluid, is formed in the first three days, which is rich in nutrients.
Afterward, as the newborn starts nursing, more milk production begins. Progesterone and prolactin hormones play a vital role in this entire process. These hormones not only contribute to the milk supply but also control the mother's nervous system.
Clostrum is rich in nutrients. Many mothers mistakenly believe that the milk of the initial days is impure, so it is discarded. It is important to note that colostrum from goats and buffaloes is consumed because it is considered good, so how can the mother's milk be spoiled?
There are several reasons for not breastfeeding a child, including modernization and various diseases. Patients infected with HIV and tuberculosis do not breastfeed their children, but there is no restriction in other diseases.
In addition to meeting the nutritional needs of the child in the right amount, mother's milk also has numerous benefits. It naturally includes antibodies against various diseases, working like vaccines to strengthen the immune system. Diseases such as loss, rubella, chickenpox, tetanus, whooping cough, and influenza are included.
It also protects children from various infections and allergies. Conditions like diarrhea, abdominal pain, eczema, and asthma are prevented. Children do not complain of gas and constipation. The IQ level and brain development of such children are faster compared to others.
The process of breastfeeding also brings several advantages to the mother. There is no need for additional expenses, it is available all the time, there is no stage of preparation, and there is no possibility of contamination. Naturally, there is an adequate gap between two pregnancies.
Breastfeeding mothers have a significantly lower risk of ovarian and breast cancer. The annual rate of 20,000 deaths from breast cancer can be reduced among mothers breastfeeding their infants. Breastfeeding during birth makes it easier to prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
Excess body fat is eliminated, and increased weight during pregnancy naturally decreases. Abnormal blood due to extra attention to diet leads to a decrease in menstruation. Mothers experience relief from mental stress, high blood pressure, joint pain, increased cholesterol, heart diseases, diabetes, and regular menses for an extended period after pregnancy.
Children who are bottle-fed are more prone to infections. This is because washing and sterilizing the bottle properly after each use is challenging. 'Formula milk,' mostly made from cow's milk, does not serve as a substitute for mother's milk. There is a possibility of nutritional deficiencies, and it becomes difficult to carry it all the time.
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action and UNICEF jointly observe a week on the importance of mother's milk worldwide from August 1 to 7 every year. It was first observed in 1992 in 120 countries and remains the most critical need of the time.