Breastfeeding builds not just the body, but the brain too. That is why the World Health Organization still recommends exclusive breastfeeding for every newborn. That is also why there is a World Breastfeeding Week to celebrate and propagate the benefits of breastfeeding. This article will focus solely on the good of breastfeeding for your baby’s brain growth and development.
Building a Baby’s Budding Brain
The first 1000 days of life, spanning the entire period of pregnancy to about 2 years after delivery, are crucial for brain growth and development. Billions of neurons are being formed, with even more neural connections being made daily. As such a foundational stage, nutrition has to be adequate.
What in Breast Milk Feeds the Brain?
Lactose: This milk sugar is broken down to glucose, which is the chief energy source for the brain.
Important lipids like DHA and fatty acids: The brain is very fat-rich. This is essential for its function even at the cellular level.
Choline: This is used to form important chemical messengers in the nervous system (called neurotransmitters). Together with the lipids, it is also used to build brain cell structure.
Minerals like iodine and iron: These nutrients ensure proper cognitive function. When deficient, affected children may suffer cognitive dullness and intellectual disability.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Your Baby’s Brain
Increased brain volume: Brains of breastfeeding infants are generally bigger than their unbreastfed counterparts.
Increased connectivity among neurons: Memory and learning depend on interneural connections. Breastmilk facilitates these connections.
Psychosocial stability: Breastfeeding promotes the surge of a hormone called oxytocin in both mother and child. This promotes mother-to-child bonding as well as later psychosocial stability.
Immunity against brain infections: Breastmilk contains immunoglobulins, live white blood cells, and other active agents that give the baby some protection from brain infections like meningitis.
The benefits are dose-wise. This means that babies breastfed for longer enjoy more of these benefits than those breastfed for a shorter time.
So What Do I Do Now?
Decide to practice exclusive breastfeeding. This means you will give your baby only breast milk for the first 6 months, except for such medications as the doctor may prescribe. This even excludes water, herbal concoctions, home remedies, and so on.
Breastfeed adequately. That is, every 2–3 hours or whenever the baby demands (by crying). Infrequent feeding puts the baby at risk of low blood sugar, which is dangerous in a still-developing brain.
Breastfeed in the right posture. See our article on proper positioning.
Employers should support mothers who choose to breastfeed.
Public spaces like churches, halls, and vehicles should be breastfeeding-friendly. A space for nursing mothers can be provided, and none of them should be discouraged or scorned while trying to breastfeed.
Breastfeed without neglecting hygiene and immunization. These incredibly simple steps, if practiced in isolation, will be futile. But in combination, they will keep your baby healthy in both brain and body.
What if I Can’t Breastfeed?
Some women may not be able to breastfeed at all. Some do not lactate adequately. Others are too ill to establish milk letdown on time. Others are much too busy. Remember Remus and Romulus, founders of Rome, who were forsaken by their mother and therefore were nursed by a she-wolf. Yet, they grew to found that great city.
Though it is a mere legend, it should remind you that breastmilk is not the only factor on which brain performance depends. A warm, loving home, cognitive stimulation, and alternative nutrition such as in good infant feeding formulas will go a long way in your baby’s brain development also.
Conclusion
Breastmilk remains the best meal for both your baby’s brain and body. Decide and plan to breastfeed your baby exclusively and correctly. They are our future leaders. Your tomorrow would be grateful.
