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Breastfeeding is always best for your baby

Breast is best

Breastfeeding is the best possible start to a baby’s life. It’s a living fluid providing perfect nutrition, changing according to a baby’s needs and strengthening the developing immune systems.

Breastmilk provides all the nutrients a growing infant needs, including non-nutritional factors, such as antibodies, prebiotics, enzymes, hormones and nucleotides. It’s always delivered at the right temperature, it’s convenient and it’s absolutely free – courtesy of “Mother Nature”.

The protective elements in breastmilk help babies fight common infections. Breastmilk will vary from mother to mother, from day to day and even during the feed the composition will change in line with a baby’s needs.

The science behind breastfeeding

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, or LCPs for short, are important for the development of a baby’s brain, eyes and nervous system. Recent research also suggests that LCPs fed during early infancy are associated with lower blood pressure in later childhood.

The build of LCPs in an infant occurs mainly during the last trimester of pregnancy and in the first two years of life. Essential fatty acids are taken into the body through the diet and the body then converts them into LCPs.

Research has shown that in the first 6 months of life a baby may not be able to make enough LCPs to meet their needs so it’s important to ensure an adequate supply of preformed LCPs during this time.

Fortunately, breastmilk naturally provides the preformed LCPs, “DHA” and “AA”, which are vital for the development of your baby’s brain, eyes and nervous system.

Prebiotics: Supporting your baby’s natural immune system

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in a baby’s gut. Prebiotics are not to be confused with probiotics. Probiotics are the live, friendly bacteria which are often added to foods, such as yogurt, to help reduce the numbers of potentially harmful bacteria for a healthier digestive system. Prebiotics are the food for these friendly bacteria.

Prebiotics are an important feature of breastmilk and they actually occur in a similar amount to protein. Prebiotics help promote friendly bacteria in the gut flora, thereby aiding digestion, as well as supporting a baby’s natural immune system. A healthy immune system helps protect against potentially harmful bacteria that can cause infections.

The latest research shows that prebiotics are clinically proven to support your baby’s natural immune system by reducing your baby’s risk of developing infections and allergies.