preview

The Analysis : Lactation And Breastfeeding

Better Essays

Lactation & Breastfeeding
Milk is well adapted to the special needs of each species. Human milk is ideally suited to the needs of human infant. A recent study of more than 10,000 new born babies published in the American Journal “Paediatrics” has shown that if all babies start breast feeding within one hour, pre-natal deaths will be reduced by 22%. Babies have been dependent on his mother’s milk for survival. Although, the cow’s milk began to be used as a domestic animal 5000 years ago, less than 100 years since the baby food industry started to manufacture refined milk-based products as alternatives to breast milk.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants”. Breastfeeding is recommended as the exclusive source of nutrition for infants’ up to 6 months of age. After 6 months, iron-fortified complementary foods should be added to the basic diet of breast milk. The Healthy People 2010 goals for breastfeeding are as follows–
* 75% of mothers initiate breastfeeding in the early postpartum period.
* 50% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 months.
* 25% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 1 year.
Milk is produced by the vast number of cells that make up the mammary gland. The cells are formed into billions of pear shaped, hollow structure called alveolus discharges its milk into human which is the hollow part of the structure. When the alveolus is full, its

Get Access