Maternal milk intake during infancy is a fundamental aspect of child nutrition, with significant implications for long-term health outcomes. This chapter explores the importance of breastfeeding and the nutritional benefits of breast milk for optimal growth, immune function, and cognitive development in infants. Despite the established advantages, various challenges hinder breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates, including inadequate support systems and cultural barriers. Strategies for promoting and supporting breastfeeding, such as community education initiatives and workplace accommodations, are discussed. By emphasizing the critical role of maternal milk intake, this chapter aims to empower stakeholders to advocate for breastfeeding as a cornerstone of maternal and child health, ensuring the best start in life for future generations.
Causes and Management of Nutritional Deficiency Disorders
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Infancy marks a critical period of growth and development, where optimal nutrition is paramount for ensuring lifelong health and well-being (Martín-Rodríguez et al., 2022). Among the various sources of nourishment available to infants, maternal milk intake stands out as the cornerstone of optimal nutrition and health (Haines et al., 2019). Breast milk, in particular, emerges as the gold standard of nutrition for infant, by promoting somatic growth (Geddes & Kakulas, 2018), and offering a myriad of benefits such as modulating postnatal intestinal function (Noel et al., 2021), enhancing immune system development (Camacho-Morales et al., 2021), and fostering brain maturation (Bardanzellu et al., 2020; Lyons et al., 2020).
The journey of breast milk from the mother to the infant involves a fascinating and vital physiological process (Maheshwari, 2023). Initiated by the neonate's suckling, which stimulates the release of oxytocin, milk synthesis and secretion are facilitated by the mammary gland (Power & Schulkin, 2016). Over time, breast milk composition dynamically evolves to meet the changing needs of the infant, with colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk each playing specific roles in the newborn's development (Franco et al., 2021; Perrella et al., 2021). This comprehensive nutritional profile includes fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water, providing all essential nutrients during the initial six months of life (González et al., 2021). Furthermore, breast milk furnishes bioactive factors that bolster the infant's immune system, safeguarding against infections, and aiding in nutrient digestion and absorption (Cacho & Lawrence, 2017; Thai & Gregory, 2020).
While breast milk remains a consistent source of nutrition, maternal diet during lactation can influence its nutritional composition (Samuel et al., 2020). Attention to maternal nutrition, especially during breastfeeding, is crucial for ensuring the optimal nutrient content of breast milk (Ares Segura et al., 2016). This bidirectional relationship between maternal nutrition and breast milk composition underscores the importance of maternal milk intake in providing infants with the necessary nutrients for growth and development (Norrish et al., 2023).
Aligned with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding is actively promoted as the best source of nourishment for infants and young children (WHO, 2023a). International and national organizations have developed programs and initiatives aimed at promoting breastfeeding, recognizing its unparalleled benefits for infant health and well-being (Pérez-Escamilla et al., 2023). Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by the introduction of complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years, is advocated to maximize health outcomes for both infants and mothers (WHO, 2023a). Breastfeeding not only offers short- and long-term health benefits but also serves as a critical resource during illness, reducing mortality among malnourished children and fortifying newborns against infections (Domenici & Vierucci, 2022)
Despite the numerous benefits of breastfeeding, it is essential to recognize that it may not always be feasible or adequate for every mother (Quebu et al., 2023). In such cases, alternative feeding options should be carefully considered to ensure infants receive adequate nutrition (F. Martin et al., 2023). Nevertheless, promoting and supporting breastfeeding remain imperative to mitigate the risk of nutritional deficiencies and promote positive health outcomes for infants (Amat Camacho et al., 2023).