Breast milk-the power of mother's love

  The first "food" that a baby receives when it is born is his mother's breast milk. The benefits of breast milk have long been known and appreciated, but recently scientists at Duke University Medical Center figured out that breast milk was much more effective in protecting the infants from potential diseases and illness.

Recently, a research was published in the "Current Nutrition & food science" that the a mother's breast milk fosters colonies of microbiotic flora in a newborn's intestinal tract that provides the infant with better nutrition absorption and also improve their immune system. 
  
   William Parker, PhD, associate professor of surgery at Duke and senior author of the study claims that this study would be useful as it tells us how the breast milk could affect the bacteria system. Moreover, in cases where breast milk was not available, they could mimic a similar type of substitute in order for the babies to maintain its nutrition level and immune system.  Scientists have also figured out how the diet, together with the intestinal flora, of the infant could play a key role in his immune system. Earlier studies have shown that breast milk lowers the incidence of diarrhea, influenza and respiratory infections during infancy, while protecting against the later development of allergies, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses.

  In order to prove their theory correct, the scientists grew bacteria in samples of infant formulas, cow's milk and breast milk. For the infant formula, the researchers used three brands each of popular milk- and soy-based products, and they purchased whole milk from the grocery store. Breast milk was donated and processed to separate different components, including proteins, fats and carbohydrates. They also tested a purified form of an antibody called secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), which is abundant in breast milk and helps establish an infant's immune system. These products were all assigned with E-coil bacteria. In the breast milk, bacteria stuck together to form biofilms -- thin, adherent layers of bacteria that serve as a shield against pathogens and infections. Bacteria in the infant formula and cow's milk proliferated wildly, but it grew as individual organisms that did not aggregate to form a protective barrier. The bacteria in SIgA had mixed results, suggesting that this antibody by itself isn't enough to trigger the beneficial biofilm formation. Hence, it shows that the breast milk of mother's was much more powerful and healthier than any artificial milk-based products and even SIgA. 

E-coil bacteria 

  
This study has allowed the scientists to mimic the mother's breast milk as closely as possible, and potentially help out those infants, who by some accident, did not receive their mother's milk. Parker claims that his group would conduct more researches and studies on human whey have a clumping effect on the bacteria, and what bacteria could be protected from the body. The scientists hope that they can produce a more healthier version of infant formula, which can work as effective as the breast milk.

here is a video about the benefits of breast milk; 





this video talks about how the breast feeding is not only important to the child's development, but also important and beneficial to the mother who is feeding the child as well.

Reflections

  I never knew that a mother's breast milk was so beneficial to her child. It was basically an all-rounder medicine, which provides everything that the child needs during its infant stage. I believe that the breast milk is what allowed us to be here, healthy and strong. Without the breast milk, I doubt that we would be able to survive, as we would be prone to many diseases including infant-stage infections. 

  I hope that the scientists succeed in developing substances that can work extremely effective, almost perfectly imitating what the mother's breast milk does. This could help to save many children who can not receive their mother's breast milk, due to some factors. Moreover, not only a "super milk" could be created, the substances that can be found in mother's breast milk can be used to create medicine and vaccines that can help to improve the immune system of many people who are suffering from diseases.

  In my opinion, I believe that the reason why breast milk is so beneficial to the infants is not only due to the healthy substances inside the milk that can prevent diseases and infections, but also partially thanks to the mothers' love towards their children. Without the mothers' love towards their children, their children would not be able to grow healthily. This may sound superstitious, but it is also proven scientifically. According to a research done by some scientists, the baby feel more comfortable and relaxed when he is breast fed, than drinking milk through a bottle. Hence I feel that an incredibly important bond between a mother and her child can be form when she is breast feeding her child, and therefore influence the child's development.