Infant Nutrition

Breast Feeding Versus Bottle Feeding by Lenith Hinaloc

2007-09-13T17:14:00.002Z

Breast Feeding Versus Bottle Feeding

"Malnutrition caused by poor child feeding practices claims over 10 times as many lives as actual famine," says researcher William Chandler. "Coupled with diarrheal dehydration, malnutrition is the leading killer in the world." Often, the 'poor feeding practices' begin in infancy.

Breast milk is the ideal food for most infants because it contains all the needed nutrients. It is easily and rapidly digested. It is always fresh and at the right temperature. It contains antibodies that protect and help the baby to build up resistance to infections. Breast-feeding also provides an infant with loving attention, essential to emotional development.

As women take on secular jobs, however, breast-feeding declines in many developing countries. Consequently, many African babies are fed powdered formulas. Such formulas are nutritious when correctly prepared under sanitary conditions. "In poor areas of the world, however," reported Time magazine, "that is sometimes impossible. Mothers may unknowingly mix powdered formula with contaminated water or, to save money, dilute it too much." The results can be deadly.

Queen, a Nigerian mother of seven, recalls that hospital nurses introduced her babies to bottle-feeding right from the start. Queen continued the procedure at home. However, her six children all suffered from serious and repeated diarrhea--one almost died. Her husband says: "We realized that our sixth child was being infected through the feeding bottle, so we stopped using it, and she recovered. Now Queen is breast-feeding our seventh child during its first few months."

The message? Put your baby to the breast as soon as possible! Eat a balanced diet yourself so that you can produce healthy milk. A side benefit of breast-feeding is that it tends to delay the onset of menstruation after the birth of a baby. It is thus called nature's contraceptive.

Feed Them Right!

Sometimes, though, African children are fed breast milk exclusively well into their 18th month of life. "When weaned," says William Chandler, "many children are given adult foods they cannot chew or digest, or that are unnourishing."

UNICEF's office in Côte d'Ivoire produced a poster that advises mothers: "After five months, more than the breast." Mother's milk should be supplemented by fruit, cereals, and vegetables that have been cooked and strained and that are thus soft enough to be chewed and swallowed by an infant. A Nigerian mother named Ijeoma breast-fed each of her four children during their first four months. She continued breast-feeding for up to 12 months, gradually replacing it by spoon- or bottle-fed meals of fruit juices, pap, and other preparations. She observed strict hygiene in preparing meals. The result? Her children have grown up healthy and have had few infections.

As the child grows, a balanced diet will help him stay healthy. A meal of only carbohydrates, such as yams, cassava, or polished rice, will not provide sufficient nutrition. His body also needs proteins, vitamins, and minerals, which are found in meat, eggs, milk, beans, corn, and a variety of vegetables and fruits.

Important too is how food is handled and stored. It may seem tempting to use spoilable food that has been left standing unrefrigerated for a couple of days, but DO NOT USE IT! "Contaminated food is frequently unsafe and may lead to repeated attacks of diarrhoea and other infectious diseases." Therefore, (1) wash your hands before touching or preparing foods. (2) Eat food immediately after it is cooked--don't let it stand for long at room temperature. (3) Keep your kitchen, your cooking utensils, your clothes, and yourself clean and tidy at all times.--World Health magazine.

Germs and parasites abound in polluted water. So filter or boil water before using it. Rinse eating utensils with boiling water, and wash your hands before handling food.

Indeed, perhaps the simplest health safeguard is to maintain a high standard of cleanliness. In developing lands, though, this can be a real challenge.

A survey of developing lands revealed that in Latin America, the majority of mothers want no more children. "Only in Africa did a decided minority of the women have this view."--State of the World 1985, Worldwatch Institute.

About the Author

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There Is A Case For Natural Parenting by Mary Loewen

2007-09-13T17:14:00.001Z

Many people see natural parenting the way God has intended humans to bring up their children, i.e. as guided by your gut feelings. Millions of children are raised this way all over the world, and they are being raised very successfully. Nevertheless, other types of parenting styles exist as well. There is guided parenting, where parents learn how to parent through books, workshops, research, journals and articles. Usually such people are walking encyclopedias on matters regarding parenting -- however, in real life; they are as puzzled by the subject as any other parent.

Every animal on this planet has parenting instincts. Look around you -- whether it is the spider, or the cat, or your pet dog or the fish in your fish -- every species have their own natural parenting methods. Human beings have their own style as well. Relying only on gut feeling can take one very far in successfully raising your children. However, there is too much information floating around in so many forms, which confuses parents and make them flounder in this basic task.

As an example, it is completely natural to breastfeed an infant. This basic parenting task usually does not require any teaching or instruction. Nowadays there are so many conflicting opinions on this basic task that it's easy for a new parent to become confused and wonder whether they are doing the right thing. This same situation exists in the areas of feeding, discipline, nutrition and others.

If you go back some 30 or 40 years you will find that natural parenting was very common and quite successful. Today when parents attend parenting workshops, make unending appointments with the pediatrician, keep researching on every aspect of bringing up children, parenting loses its charm, warmth and spontaneity.

You will find that today natural parenting has taken a back seat. Instead of relying on their instincts, today's parents tend to fret over every latest piece of research, some of which are blatant nonsense. Unfortunately, the results are not so good when natural parenting takes the back seat. Children need to be free and happy, and a growing movement is beginning to see how natural parenting can create the environment for children to naturally prosper.

It is very difficult for a natural bond to form between parent and child when the child is raised according to someone else's idea of what is proper and correct. Rather, it needs the 'I feel right about this' method of parenting. This is what natural parenting is all about, i.e. trusting your own gut feelings while making decisions about raising your children -- and that is the ways things should be.

About the Author

At www.parentplaza.com you can get parenting ideas, as well as babysitter resources.

What's A Low Carb Diet For Pregnancy by Ray Baker

2006-11-08T19:48:00.000Z

Often when pregnancy is with us there are many friends and relations who offer advice and input as to what the best diet may be. One of them may be the low carb diet for pregnancy. This article attempts to inform you of things to consider before going down that particular road.

The Low Carb Diet For Pregnancy is a matter of controversy. While most nutrition specialists recommend a healthy and varied diet (carbohydrates are also included) for pregnant women, there is medical research that tries to prove that the Low Carb Diet For Pregnancy is actually beneficial for the offspring. You're pregnant. In the past, you've had serious problems with your weight, but you've managed to solve them by adopting the low-carb style of eating. You notice that any diet recommended for pregnancy also contains foods that are high in carbohydrates, but you are afraid that if you go on such a diet your weight problems will be out-of control after birth. Besides this, you know that gaining too much weight during pregnancy might also be harmful for the baby's health and lead to serious difficulties regarding the delivery and you are extremely worried about this. Would it be safe to follow a Low Carb Diet For Pregnancy?
Even nutritionists who highly recommend low carb diets for weight loss are against Low Carb Diets for Pregnancy. Carbohydrates combine with fat fragments in order to release the energy needed for all your daily activities. If you don't consume sufficient carbohydrates, your body won't be able to use the fat in a normal way and this leads to an incomplete breakdown of fat. This may lead to ketosis. This means that your liver has been depleted of the stored glycogen and switches to a chronic fasting mode. However, it has been proved that this condition can cause brain damage and mental retardation in the offspring.

Therefore, even if you follow a Low Crab Diet for Pregnancy, you must stay away from ketosis! You can do this and also avoid unnecessary weight gain by getting the minimum of carbs each day. Generally, 65 to 75 carbs per day helps you avoid ketosis. But considering the risks that ketosis involves for the infant, I would suggest you take regular urine tests that detect whether ketosis is taking place. You can use special urine test strips such as Ketostix.

Of course, if you choose this "light" form of Low Carb Diet For Pregnancy, that involves consuming at least 65-75 carbs per day, you must do this wisely. It's irresponsible to eat fat and proteins all day and then splurge on some pastry or chocolate that contains all the minimum of carbs. Instead, you should eat many times throughout the day and spread the quantity of carbohydrates evenly through your meals. Try to get your carbs mainly from vegetables (about 60%), then from whole grains (25%) and from fruits that don't contain much sugar (15%). For safer dieting, make sure you follow the other entire do's list for pregnancy. This includes an adequate intake of water each day, taking supplements (calcium, magnesium, vitamins, etc.), staying active, etc.

There are new studies that point out some positive benefits for the adult offspring in case the mother followed a Low Carb Diet For Pregnancy. It appears that this improves triglycerides, fat metabolism in offspring. Maintenance of a low triglyceride levels and a good fat metabolism can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. This theory has only been tested on animals. But even if it's the same for human beings, what would you prefer? Would you choose giving birth to a child with brain damage and mental retardation but with a lower risk of developing coronary artery disease?

Giving birth to a human being is a great responsibility. If you're looking for answer or advises, you must know that you won't find a clear answer about the safety of the Low Carb Diet For Pregnancy. This is because there is no generally accepted rule or any finite research study on this issue, and no one would take the responsibility of giving such a controversial medical advice. You must think of all the advantages and risks that are involved by using a Low Carb Diet for Pregnancy, or any other type of weight loss diets, and decide it by yourself. I'm sure you'll make the right choice, as for any pregnant woman the first priority is her baby's normal development and health.

Author - Kitty Barker who often writes for and with Pregnancy Information where there is far more information, news and resources. She also writes for Pregnancy Weight Gain If that link is inactive, you can paste this link into your browser - http://pregnancy-and-baby-tips.com/
About the Author

Author - Kitty Barker who often writes for and with Pregnancy Information where there is far more information, news and resources. She also writes for Pregnancy Weight Gain If that link is inactive, you can paste this link into your browser - http://pregnancy-and-baby-tips.com/

"The Greatest Breastfeeding Discovery" by Farrell Seah

2006-11-08T19:46:00.000Z

During the first days following the birth of your baby, your breasts begin producing colostrum, although your body began making it long before that - between three and four months of pregnancy. Colostrum doesn't have many calories, but it has the right amount of protein and
other nutrients your baby needs in the first few days after birth.

During those first days after birth, you may worry that your breast fed baby may dry up and blow away from lack of nutrition, but what colostrum lacks in volume it makes up for in power. It is exactly what your baby needs for it's first milk. It is full of antibodies and immunoglobulins, which not only help protect your baby as it comes into this world of bacteria and viruses, but it also has a laxative effect that helps baby pass the tarry first stool called meconium.

It is a common misconception that when the baby nurses in the first day or two, that he gets nothing. Luckily this is not true. It is however, difficult to convince some mothers of the need to nurse early and often when they believe that their "milk has not come in."

In addition some cultures hold the belief that colostrum is "bad" milk and will not breastfeed until the mother's mature milk is in. Many women have to be engorged before they will believe that there is any milk for the baby. Likewise, if the mother is no longer engorged, she may falsely believe that her milk is gone.

Expressing a drop or two of colostrum for the mother will give her a strong visual cue that her breasts are not empty. The mother produces small amounts of colostrum in the first 24 hours; ranging from 7 ml to 123 ml. The newborn takes 7-14 ml per feeding (Riordan and Auerbach, 124).

A gradual increase occurs during the first day and a half followed by a dramatic increase in milk output by the second day that continues through day four. At 5 days postpartum milk production is approximately 500 ml/24 hours. This is evidence that mother nature intended the infant's gastrointestinal tract to start up slowly after birth.

**As a result of observing that immigrant Bengali women in a London maternity ward failed to initiate breast feeding for a few days after birth, the author of this article decided to study this phenomenon. A review of the literature revealed that prelacteal feeds are common in the Indian subcontinent and in Egypt.

**Most UK studies of breast-feeding practices of Asian immigrants focus on the decline in breast-feeding prevalence. No research was found that directly investigates attitudes and beliefs about colostrum.

**The current study sought to determine what Bengali women believe about colostrum, why colostrum is omitted from early feeding, the duration of this omission, and what influences this belief and behavior.

**Data were gathered from 60 first-generation immigrants (58 non-English speaking), including 48 who had previously given birth in Bangladesh. Only two of the women surveyed knew that colostrum had helpful attributes. Others felt that it would either provide no benefit to their baby or would actually harm the infant.

**Source: MIDWIVES. 1997 Jan;110(1308):3-7.
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Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine as long as the following information about author/website is included.
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What To Expect From Baby Center by Smruti Ranjan Sarangi

2006-11-08T19:43:00.000Z

Baby care is the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance and protection of infants. It is the practical application of the principles of early childhood education and development. It is on two levels - the physical well-being of the baby and the mental well-being of a baby.

There are many centers are available for babies. Baby Centers are of two types:
1- Baby Center (for geting all types of informations about babies) 2- Baby Care Centers

Baby Center

Becoming pregnant and having a baby can be one of the most exciting stages in your life. But, it can also be a time of anxiety and challenges. Whether you are concerned about your pregnancy, your baby's crying or your maternity leave rights, you are not alone with your questions or problems. For that Baby Centers are avialable. You will get all the informations and supports from the Baby Centers. They are like:

1- Adoption 2- Baby and Child Health 3- Birth Control and Family Planning 4- Birth Registration 5- Breastfeeding 6- Childcare and Early Years Education 7- Child Development 8- Complementary Therapies 9- Crying 10- Dads 11- Family Health 12- Fertility 13- Food and Nutrition 14- Grief and Loss 15- Immunizations 16- Labour and Birth 17- New Mom Health 18- Pregnancy 19- Prenatal Health 20- Rights and Benefits 21- Safety 22- Special Needs 23- Twins or More 24- Working Parents

About Baby Centers.

Baby Center, the leading destination for new and expectant parents, is dedicated to helping you find the information and support you need during pregnancy and in caring for a baby, toddler, or child.

Having a baby is a life-changing event, and raising a child is an exciting ongoing challenge. Baby Centers are offer guidance, with easy-to-use sites that feature original high-quality content and practical advice from trusted sources such as obstetricians, pediatricians, developmental experts, nutritionists, and fellow parents.
More important, many of us are moms and dads who are living the subject firsthand, raising newborns, toddlers, and older children. Baby centers are thoroughly research and fact-check every things.

Many parents and parents-to-be are overwhelmed by the complex choices they face in picking out the right baby gear, baby clothes, toys, nursery accessories, and other essentials. And parents of older children face a mind-boggling array of toys, games, software, and more products marketed for kids. Baby center help you make better buying decisions with popular buying guides and product comparisons.
Baby centes make a sense of community. Baby centers give some support systems in the stage of pregnancy or baby's age.

Baby Care Center

The very words "Baby Care" can create a wealth of emotion when the subject is raised. Caring for a baby is one of the most important things anyone can do. Taking proper care of a baby can mean the difference in development between a well adjusted and mal-adjusted adult. Thousands upon thousands of words have been written on the subject of baby care and today baby care itself has grown into a huge industry.

Enormous changes have taken place over the last two generations concerning the way in which babies are cared for. Years ago the baby's mother took sole responsibility for bringing up her baby (apart from those infants whose parents were wealthy enough to employ a nanny or a governess) whereas nowadays parents both work full time. In today's world, it has become an economic necessity for both parents to work against a background of ever increasing costs plus a lifestyle, which our grandparents could never have begun to imagine. Baby care centers is now extremely big business. Care centers for babies and toddlers have mushroomed and, in some cases, parents have to put their baby's name down to attend a particular care centers soon after the infant is born.

Babysitting is the practice of temporarily leaving a child in the care of someone other than his or her guardians. Babysitting is most commonly performed as an odd job by teenagers for extra money, stereotypically girls. In general, the child being watched is of some family or social relation to the babysitter, although professional babysitting services are also extant.
All parents think their babies are special and they are. However, once a baby or toddler begins to attend baby care centers, nursery or nursery school that baby has no choice but to learn and accept that attention from staff has to be shared between all the babies. An only baby has become used to being the focus of attention at home. It often comes as a considerable shock for an only baby to realise the world doesn't revolve round him/her.

Choosing a suitable baby care centers usually throws parents into a panic as they consider the implications. How will they recognise which care centers offer excellent care? Will all the staff be fully trained? What is the percentage of staff to children? Are meals provided? What is the level of cleanliness, both in the care centers and in the kitchens? Is time set aside for babies and toddlers to sleep? How good is security at the care centers? Does bullying occur? What arrangements are in place if a baby should become sick? Many parents feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to turn for advice. Care centers which fulfil all the requirements needed to operate a successful care centers are normally registered with the local community which will be happy to supply details of these care centers to anxious parents. One of the best ways of deciding upon a suitable care centers is, of course, by recommendation. Mothers whose babies already attend care centers are generally are only too happy to advise other mothers which care centers are particularly good as opposed to those which are merely satisfactory.

There is no doubt that most babies and toddlers acquire confidence by attending care centers. A baby who has never spent time away from home finds it tremendously stressful if he/she ever has to cope with the absence of a mother perhaps through hospitalisation. On the other hand, a baby who has learnt to adapt to a different environment will not be nearly as traumatised by the absence of a parent and will be able to deal with the separation far more easily.

Obviously, all babies attending care centers have to conform to certain rules, which amount to a form of discipline. It has long been acknowledged that babies exposed to discipline welcome the fact that boundaries have been set which makes them feel more secure and, consequently, happier.

By attending a good care center offers babies the chance to interact with others, acquire confidence and accept some basic rules. Most of these babies develop into successful, happy adults.

About the Author
Smruti Ranjan Sarangi has authored many articles on a diversified topics like Technical, Management, and Humanity. For information on Child Adoption, Baby Health Tips etc. visit Baby Care New Born

Infant Nutrition Blog

2006-10-04T15:46:00.000Z

Welcome to my blog on Infant nutrition. There are articles on many aspects of Infant Nutrition and I hope you find the information that you are looking for.

Michael Adams

If you enjoy this blog on infant nutrition then take a look at my other blogs.

Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity Statistics
Fitness for the Family

Are Vitamins Important For Infant Nutrition And What Do They Need?

2006-10-03T20:38:00.000Z

The education on health and nutrition has covered a wide arena. Books, journals, news, advertisements, pamphlets, and the likes are all modes used in the transmission of the information. Hence, the education on the need to take natural vitamin supplements has become adamant and has covered people from all walks of life.

Children in particular are not exempted. They may not be working as tough and as hard as some of the working individuals out there or their health is not in demise compared to the senior citizens, yet the need for kids to take vitamins is a vital factor.

Why do we need to take vitamins? Are vitamins important for children? What do they need?

Several studies show the actual benefit as garnered from the intake of vitamin supplements. Several illnesses have been proven to be avoided due to the proper and sensible intake of multivitamins. The daily diet which the children take in may not necessarily provide the ample amount of all the nutrients needed by their bodies.

In fact, it is clearly emphasized how vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition lead to several types of diseases. The symptoms which become visible when one is deficient with a certain vitamin nutrient are tiredness, irritability, muscle cramps, headache, cough, and colds.

When these factors become noticeably ongoing for a long duration of time, then going to and seeing a doctor is highly recommended.

It is even good to see that today's generation has further become aware of their health. Vitamins are particularly important to children. Basically, the vitamins which an infant takes up to such span of time of his formative years greatly contribute to his physical and mental developments.

The bone, muscle, and brain formations are considered to be very vital for a child. That is why it has always been deemed necessary for a child to possibly get the best level of vitamin nutrients as supplemented by vitamin pills or vitamin liquids prescribed by the pediatrician.

Do the children need to take vitamins?

This question oftentimes bugs the parents and the soon-to-be-parents. This question is also usually one that parents should ask themselves or their doctors. Before the children must be pumped with all sorts of vitamin supplements which are of course usually over-the-counter, the choice of vitamin must be set to be conducive to their good health. The doctor's prescription will be of great help.

It always seems a good idea to give the children all the extra nutrients which parents can have hold on, however, it is a clearly stated fact that not all simple vitamin formulas are enough to keep the children healthy. It is not always an advisable idea to rely on the vitamin supplements to do the task of keeping the children healthy.

As always, a balanced diet, and a health-oriented lifestyle and daily practice will solve the problem.

In most cases, the doctors often prescribe vitamins for the babies and toddlers to take most especially when there is the suspicion of a vitamin deficiency tendency or any other kind of disorder which may hinder good health and proper nutrition. In the case of pregnant women, prenatal checkups require prenatal vitamins to aid in the fetus's brain formation.

Children who tend to be picky eaters mostly need vitamins. However, it must be borne in mind that vitamins are only supplements and are not the direct source of nutrition. Vitamins are not substitutes for food. One more reason why kids must take vitamins is for the strengthening of the immune system in order to evade diseases and illnesses which may hinder proper growth and nutrition.

Vitamins also help out in the recovery period during prolonged illnesses or some chronic conditions. Vitamin therapy, as it is called, may be advantageous for children who suffer from very serious illnesses.

The children's immune system must well be taken cared of. So when foreign bodies get through the system, the child's strong immune system can fight it off. Al all times, children's vitamins always come with iron and minerals. Parents likewise must not teach the children to take the vitamins like candies as they may have the concept of taking vitamins more than the usual.

It will be better to teach the children to treat the vitamins like medicine which will help them become strong and healthy.

About the Author
Ben Adams publishes an informative website, providing free useful and helpful information about vitamins and minerals at: Important Vitamin

The Secrets To Providing Infant With The Best Nutrition After Birth

2006-10-02T21:37:00.000Z

While there are currently many substitute formulations available for providing newborns and infants with adequate nutrition, breastfeeding should never be considered as one of many possible options. This is because the breast secretions furnished by the mother meet not only the nutritional needs of newborns and infants, but their developmental needs as well.
The pre-milk, or colostrum, secreted immediately after birth is important for the development of a healthy digestive system, and both colostrum and mature breast milk play crucial roles in the development of a strong immune system.

To get the maximum benefits from these secretions and ensure optimal growth and nutrition, breastfeeding should always be chosen over artificial formulations and other food sources for as long as possible throughout the first year of life.

Colostrum is the first food available to breastfeeding newborns, and remains the primary mammary secretion for the first 3-4 days after birth. The composition of colostrum is very different from that of mature breast milk.

In addition to being more yellow or orange in appearance, it is also much thicker, and is secreted in far smaller quantities. Because colostrum is a concentrated, easily digested food source that is tailor-made to meet the nutritional needs of newborn infants, breastfeeding babies do not require the large volumes of fluid required for bottle-fed babies during the first few days of life.
Breastfeeding and colostrum play an equally important role in the rapid development of the digestive system immediately after birth, and in the further strengthening of the immune system throughout the first few weeks of life.

Colostrum is rich in non-nutritional proteins essential for the maturation and decreased permeability of the lower digestive tract, and newborns receiving colostrum during the first three days of life show a decreased incidence of diarrhea during their first 6 months.
Colostrum also contains high concentrations of antibodies called immunoglobulins. Rather than being absorbed in the body, the immunoglobulins in colostrum adhere to mucosal surfaces in the throat, lungs, and intestines of newborns, protecting them against infection by preventing pathogens from sticking to or penetrating these surfaces.

In order to ensure optimal digestive and immune system development and meet the changing nutritional needs of newborns and infants, breastfeeding should occur as often as possible, with newborns ideally having constant access to breasts during the first 24 to 72 hours after birth.

A good general guideline to follow for breastfeeding frequency is 8-12 times throughout each 24-hour period. More frequent feeding stimulates increased mature milk production, and also helps prevent engorging as babies get older. If possible, infants should continue breastfeeding for the first 6-12 months to aid in the further development of the immune system.

To prevent the onset of milk or other food allergies later in a baby's development, it is often best not to introduce other foods into the diet during this time.

How To Enhance Infant Protection From Infection And Disease through Infant Nutrition

2006-10-02T21:36:00.000Z

In 1975, a pediatrician named Allan Walker reported a startling link between formula-fed infants and the occurrence of infectious diseases like neonatal meningitis and food allergies. In that report, he suggested that the this link was due to antigen absorption through the intestinal walls, and that breastfeeding infants for the first three months of life would prevent this absorption and decrease their susceptibility to disease.

He concluded that the passive immunity provided by colostrum and breast milk might play an important role in protecting infants from infection and disease by blocking the passage of pathogens and toxins through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream. Dr. Walker's report initiated decades of further research, and we now know that he was right.

Colostrum and breast milk do much more than provide nutritional support. They also provide developmental support that is necessary for the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, and immunological support that is vital for the continued growth and strengthening of the immune system.

Colostrum is the first milk provided to breastfeeding newborns during the first few days of life. This special milk is yellow to orange in color, thick and rather sticky, and very easily digested. It is richer in proteins than mature breast milk--both nutritional proteins for utilization in the body, and non-nutritional proteins that remain in the gut to aid in its closure to pathogens and toxins.

Infants who receive colostrum early and often have mature digestive tracts that are more robust throughout their first six months of life, and strong immune systems that are better able to resist infection and disease. Colostrum is the perfect source of nutrition for infants, providing them with the nutrients required to ensure proper growth and the development of the brain and nervous system.

Colostrum changes gradually to mature milk during the first two weeks after birth. During this transition period, the breast milk will become thinner in its consistency and whiter in its appearance. The concentration of antibodies in the transition milk will begin to decrease, while its overall volume will begin to increase. The antibodies and other immune factors in mature human breast milk do not disappear completely; in fact, immunological protection against viruses and bacteria continues to be passed along from the mother to the baby as long as the baby continues breastfeeding. Like colostrum, breast milk is the perfect source of nutrition for infants, and tailor-made to their changing needs over time.

It contains an optimal balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for energy, and it provides the digestive enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and hormones for a baby's optimal health and continued growth.

Most commercially prepared formulas are based on non-fat bovine milk, whey protein, or soy protein. These formulas must be fortified with carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals in order for them to match the nutritional content of colostrum and breast milk.

But the active antibodies and other immune factors contained in human colostrum and breast milk cannot be added to these formulas, and they cannot provide the same developmental stimulus or immunological protection. As a result, babies receiving fluids other than mother's colostrum/breast milk for first three days of life have an increased incidence of diarrhea during their first six months, and formula-fed infants are more prone to a variety of common infections to which they are particularly vulnerable.

About the Author
Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine as long as the following information about author/website is included.
http://www.BuyBovineColostrum.com