Breastfeeding and Baby's Immune System

Human milk is your baby's first immunization, as breast milk provides antibodies which protect your baby from many common respiratory and intestinal diseases, and also contains living immune cells.

First milk, or colostrum, is packed with components which increase immunity and protect the newborn's intestines. Babies who are breastfed also receive protection from developing immune system cancers and other diseases related to immune system function. And breastfed babies generally mount a more effective response to childhood immunizations.

In all these cases, the health benefits of breast milk begin immediately, and increase with increasing duration of breastfeeding.

Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, 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.

A breast-fed baby's digestive tract contains large amounts of Lactobacillus bifidus, beneficial bacteria that prevent the growth of harmful organisms. Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile, never contaminated by polluted water or dirty bottles, which can also lead to diarrhea in the infant.