More Than Just a Superfood for Babies!

Scientists have called human milk the ultimate super food in preventing disease in the premature baby.  In its early stage of production, human milk, called colostrum, is an incredible pharmaceutical giant produced by lactation. ..  Contained inside this creamy coloured milk is an army of biological soldiers ready to rid the baby's body of deadly pathogens as they enter and spread disease to the delicate interior cavity of the premature infant. ...The name of one such disease is called necrotizing enterocolitis  (NEC). ... Its nemesis is mother’s milk, the great equalizer in protecting these vulnerable babies from this sinister, virulent disease which spells death to the intestines of the  immature infant, born too soon.  

Research published in the June 2012 issue of Discover, showed that complex human milk sugars, called oligosaccharides - (HMO) - and something called pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor - (PSTI)- were found to be present in human milk, helping to protect the preemie against NEC. ... (These oligosaccharides seemed to act as a ‘cleanser’ in flushing out the deadly bacteria responsible for this horrible disease) Several mitigating factors affecting the survival of the preemie are his birth weight, state of health at birth and his gestational age.  Losing out on the third trimester, a critical 3 month period of growth and development, the premature infant’s life is now in jeopardy.  The safety of the womb is gone, forever. ... Enter, the incubator, the baby's climate controlled, manmade womb.

The NICU doctor met my husband a few days after our son’s early birth in 1979. His surprise at the reason why my husband was there, that early morning, upgraded our son’s 5% chance of survival to 10%. A meager 2 ounces of mother’s milk, collected over many sessions, contained in a sterilized bottle, housed within an ice bucket, was the star attraction, that early morn. It was at that moment that the doctor realized that the team effort, for our son, extended far beyond the walls of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. ... It would be a meeting we would never forget. ... In 1979, we believed in what we had to do. Back then, few people knew or understood much about the importance of human milk in the diet of babies, let alone premature infants. For us, it was premium, easily digested 'formula', readily available. (Preemie milk was also different, I would learn weeks later, an early premium grade milk, designed specifically for the unique needs of the preemie, for his ‘time lost’ in the womb.)  Back then, we were naive but resolute in our commitment to our baby. I had also learned of the importance of using fresh milk, whenever possible, in providing added health benefits for him.  As science had stated in 1979, previously frozen milk de-activated an ingredient aiding in the baby's growth and development.  Our daily routines changed as science made us more aware of new data. Internet did not exist!....(Giving Birth to a Preemie/Caring for a Preemie-7/8, 2012)

Now research, in the 2012 issue of Discover, was touting human milk as the best thing for human disease prevention for the premature baby. ...  Dr. Mark Underwood, a neonatologist at University of California / Davis and his colleagues were now focusing on the health potential of human milk in a way never thought of previously. It is an exciting period in neonatal health.  This magical potion called mother’s milk is now being scientifically proven to be the best defense against the diseases of the severely premature infant. WOW!   It was a remarkable moment in  medical science.

A special event occurred in Copenhagen, Denmark in May 2011. It was the 1^st International Conference on the Glycobiology of Human Milk Oligosaccharides.  Scientists from all over the globe gathered there in great numbers to share their research and tell the world why mother’s milk was the best. Breast milk would be proven to be more than just about superb infant nutrition. It would now be about health and disease prevention. Mother’s milk was simply, the elixir of all life!