I was understood that one of the milk suppliers of Sanlu, the China’s biggest maker of infant milk powder, has added nitrogen-rich melamine to watered-down milk to fool quality checks, which often use nitrogen levels to measure the amount of protein in milk. This nitrogen-rich melamine has caused kidney stones and agonizing complications to the infants and toddlers after drinking the milk.

Besides, some of the dairy products manufactured in China are also contaminated with melamine. Countries like Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan have banned or recalled Chinese dairy products.

This incident has reminded us the importance of breastfeeding. This will rule out the possibility of letting our babies to drink contaminated milk. Additionally, there are other benefits of breastfeeding your baby.

In this case, breast milk or infant formula milk supplies all the nutrition an infant needs in the first few months. Infant formula milk also contains the lipids DHA and ARA, nutrients found naturally in mother’s milk that supports infant mental and visual development.

Nowadays, the quality of infant formula milk has been improved by adding substances beneficial to the infant health, such as nucleotides, calcium, iron and vitamins. Addition of such substances in infant milk seems to promote a beneficial intestinal microflora to newborns by lowering the buffering capacity of the milk. Requirements for vitamins depend on the intake of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and amino acids. Iron-fortified infant formulas have actually been credited for the declining incidence of anemia in infants.

Many breastfeeding mothers are anxious as to whether or not her baby is getting enough milk. Mothers who give their child infant formula milk don’t have this concern. Therefore, many mothers choose a combination of breastfeeding and feeding with infant formula milk.

Breastfeeding is the best choice for the mothers. Nevertheless, infant formula milk which has been added the essential nutrition is an only alternative way for the mothers who do not have enough breast milk to feed her baby.

Here are a few good reasons to breastfeed your newborn baby.

1. The high fat content in breast milk helps the baby to gain weight quickly and is not bad for babies like a high-fat diet might be for an adult. The fat also provides essential vitamin A, D & E to your baby.
2. The higher cholesterol levels in breast milk may help protect against high cholesterol issues later in life.
3. The proteins and fats in whole cow’s milk are more difficult for an infant to digest and absorb than the ones in breast milk.
4. Whole cow’s milk also contains excessive amounts of protein, sodium and potassium which may put a strain on an infant’s immature kidneys. In this case, breast milk contains water soluble vitamins and proteins which are good for your baby.
5. Mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well. Breastfed babies are healthier as the milk contains antibodies which can reduce the ear infections and respiratory illnesses. Approximately eighty percent of the cells in breast milk contain macrophages, a special type of cell that kills bacteria, fungi and viruses.
6. One of the main benefits of breast milk is its high content of whey protein. Whey protein is an easily digestible energy source. It can provide the necessary energy required by a baby.
7. In addition to missing out on the immunological benefits of breast milk, formula fed infants are at higher risk for SIDS and developing chronic health problems like allergies, obesity and diabetes later on.
8. Your body burns about 500 calories a day when making breastfeeding. In this case, breastfeeding uses up those calories, making it easier to lose the weight you put on during pregnancy.
9. Breast milk is completely free and readily available. This helps you to reduce your family expenses for buying infant formula milk.
10. The bond between baby and you can also be strengthened during breastfeeding. Interestingly, at birth a baby can only focus on things between 12 and 18 inches away – precisely the distance between your face and your baby’s eyes during breast feeding.