Breast milk (ASI) is an irreplaceable natural gift for newborns up to six months of age. Along with the development of science, especially in the field of health, the importance of providing exclusive breastfeeding to babies is increasingly recognized, especially in supporting optimal child growth and development.
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition a mother can give to her baby. Breast milk contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and immune substances that support optimal baby development, especially during the first 6 months.
Another miracle of the benefits of breast milk is its extraordinary adaptive ability. The composition of breast milk can change according to the needs of the baby at different times. Because breast milk is made exactly like the needs of the child.
So for example, premature babies and full-term babies have different calorie content (in breast milk), different fat content. Even in the same baby, morning breast milk and night breast milk are different. So if breast milk at night usually has more substances to make it calm, easier to sleep. This shows how sophisticated breast milk is in responding to the specific needs of babies.
In addition to having an extraordinary nutritional composition, breast milk also plays an important role in strengthening the baby's immune system or endurance. The content of antibodies in breast milk protects babies from various infectious diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory infections, which are common in newborns.
"Exclusive breastfeeding is important because it provides nutrition and immunity that are in accordance with the individual needs of the child, truly (produced) personally for the child," explained Citra.
Not only beneficial for the baby, exclusive breastfeeding also has a positive impact on the mother. The breastfeeding process helps the mother return to her original body shape faster, and reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer later in life.
Things to Consider for Quality Breast Milk
However, there are things that breastfeeding mothers need to pay attention to, namely a balanced diet and hydration. The quality of a mother's breast milk is greatly influenced by her own nutritional intake.
Breastfeeding mothers need an additional 500 calories per day, as well as essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin C, and folate to support the production of quality breast milk. Likewise, fluid intake to keep mothers well hydrated.
To produce sufficient quality breast milk, make sure the mother is healthy, eats nutritious food, and does not drink too little.
By providing exclusive breastfeeding, mothers not only provide the best nutrition for their babies, but also create a strong emotional bond.
The article was written based on the Healthy Monday Liputan6 collaboration program with dr. Citra Amelinda, Sp.A, IBCLC, M.Kes (Pediatrician at EMC Pekayon Hospital).