Why Breast Milk?

The Importance of Breast Milk: More Than Just Nutrition

Breast milk has long been recognized as the best option for infant nutrition, but new research and insights show that its significance extends far beyond just nourishment. Breastfeeding not only creates a close bond between mother and child but also plays a crucial role in global public health.

According to an article written by Martine Rostadmo, who is a doctor and senior consulent in the Helsedirektoratet - over 800,000 child deaths could be prevented each year if more mothers in low-income countries breastfed instead of using formula. This is because breast milk provides unique protection against diseases like diarrhea, respiratory infections, and ear infections, which often affect young children in these areas. If 90% of mothers worldwide breastfed - 823,000 children's lives could be saved annually.

A Complex Nutritional Source

Breast milk is not just food; it is a complex biological product that adapts to the needs of the baby. Rostadmo emphasizes that breast milk affects gene expression in ways we were previously unaware of. It contains sugars that stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, strengthening the child's immune system and overall health. Furthermore, the mother's gut bacteria are transferred to the baby through milk, helping to develop the child's microbiome.

Breastfeeding mom.

What If the Mother Cannot Breastfeed?

While breastfeeding is the best option, there are situations where mothers cannot or choose not to breastfeed due to medical reasons, milk supply issues, or personal reasons. In such cases, donor milk should be considered as a safe and nutritious alternative to formula.

Donor milk has many of the same health benefits as breast milk, including protection against infections and promotion of a healthy microbiome. Many countries have established donor milk banks where mothers who cannot breastfeed can access either raw donor milk or pasteurized breast milk from healthy mothers. This donor milk undergoes strict quality control to ensure it is safe and provides the necessary nutrients for the baby.

Research shows that premature babies who receive donor milk instead of formula have a lower risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal disease. This highlights the importance of prioritizing donor milk over formula when breastfeeding is not possible.

Long-term Health Benefits

The benefits of breastfeeding extend not only to the child but also to the mother. Rostadmo points out that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and diabetes. On a global level, around 20,000 deaths from breast cancer could be prevented each year if more women breastfed.

Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF supports these claims. They highlight that breastfed children have a lower risk of infections, develop better cognitive abilities, and are less likely to develop obesity later in life.

Environment and Sustainability

In addition to the health benefits, breastfeeding is also a more sustainable choice. The production of formula requires large resources, including vast amounts of water and energy. According to Rostadmo, it takes 4,000 liters of water to produce one kilo of formula powder, and the packaging and energy required to prepare it contribute to environmental strain.

Donor milk, on the other hand, is a natural and sustainable resource that can be distributed locally, requiring minimal resources compared to artificial substitutes.

Breastfeeding as a Public Health Measure

Breastfeeding should not just be seen as a personal choice but as a public health measure. For years, the World Health Organization has warned against the aggressive marketing of formula in low-income countries, where mothers often do not have access to clean water or a stable electricity supply to safely prepare formula. In extreme cases, such as during the civil war in Yemen, children have starved because mothers became reliant on formula but did not have access to it during crises.

Given the enormous health benefits breastfeeding provides to both mother and child, as well as the environmental advantages, it is clear that we must do more to promote and support breastfeeding. For those who cannot breastfeed, donor milk should be the preferred alternative, both to ensure optimal health and to reduce environmental impact.

Sources:
Rostadmo, M. (2018, 28th of May). Amming som globalt folkehelsetiltak. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. Taken from https://tidsskriftet.no/2018/05/fra-redaktoren/amming-som-globalt-folkehelsetiltak

Verdens helseorganisasjon (WHO), UNICEF. Breastfeeding and global health.