For those of you who have just given birth, WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Breastfeeding mothers should continue breastfeeding until the child is two years old, accompanied by complementary foods (MPASI). The reason is because breast milk is the main source of nutrition for babies. Breast milk contains fat, protein, sugar, enzymes, antibodies, and white blood cells needed by the baby's body to build the immune system or the immune system to be strong against various viruses, diseases and infections.
Babies with low immune systems tend to get sick easily so that their growth and development are disrupted. Diseases that often attack babies with a low immune system include asthma, eczema, and various other types of allergies. Babies also become overly sensitive to dust, weather, food, and various types of drugs.
Not only maintaining the baby's body immunity, breast milk given by the mother also has benefits for the child's body even long after the breastfeeding period is over. Children and adolescents who were exclusively breastfed as babies were shown to have a lower risk of developing cancer, type 1 and 2 diabetes, colitis, and high blood pressure.
Then, how does breast milk work on the baby's body? While it's beneficial to support a growing immune system, breast milk doesn't just work when the baby is sick. Here's how breastfeeding works that breastfeeding mothers need to know.
- Breast milk enlarges the thymus gland
The thymus gland is in the baby's throat. The main function of this gland is to form T cells that will fight incoming viruses. The more mature, this gland will continue to shrink so that the human immune system decreases.
Breast milk functions as a stimulant for the thymus gland to produce T cells during the early years of a baby's life. Babies who are breastfed tend to have a larger thymus gland than babies who only eat formula. Research also proves that the shrinkage of the thymus gland in babies who get exclusive breastfeeding tends to be less than those who don't consume breast milk. Therefore, babies who receive breast milk from breastfeeding mothers will be more resistant to viruses than babies who do not receive breast milk.
- Breast milk increases immunity
Colostrum or breast milk that comes out for the first time contains immunoglobulin A which functions to protect the baby from germ attacks. Immunoglobulin A provides protection for the baby's organs that are susceptible to germs, such as the intestines, nose and throat.
In addition, breast milk also contains anti-inflammatory and anti-infective. Inflammation is also called inflammation, which is the body's response to protect itself from foreign objects, such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Even though it is good, the inflammatory process has the risk of turning detrimental because the body can actually fight healthy cells so that normal tissue becomes damaged. In this case, breast milk plays a role so that this protective function does not attack the baby's healthy tissues.
- Breast milk carries with it good bacteria
Breast milk contains special bacteria that are beneficial for intestinal performance so that it supports the digestive process in the baby's body. Other types of bacteria also help stimulate the baby's immune system so that it is not susceptible to viruses and diseases.
- Breast milk helps increase the baby's oral tolerance
There are potential allergens in breast milk that come from the environment around the nursing mother. This allergen is not dangerous, but can help increase the baby's immunity, especially from oral tolerance. Oral tolerance occurs when the immune system does not react when the oral organs come into contact with things that are supposed to be harmless to the body.
So, that's the importance of breastfeeding for baby's immunity that parents should know. Come on, make sure the baby's milk needs are fulfilled until he reaches two years of age. Don't forget to take care of your mother's health so that she stays in prime condition to provide breast milk. Breastfeeding mothers can eat healthy and natural foods and do light exercise accompanied by their fathers so that their body condition is maintained. #LiveExcellently