Allah Almighty Says (what means): {…His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.} [Quran 31: 14]
In this article, we will shed light on some facts discovered by modern medicine and study that confirm the Wisdom of Allah, The Almighty, and the completeness and perfection of Islam.
Human milk, the best food for babies, contains the right amount of nutrients, in the right proportions, for the growing baby. A living, biological fluid; it contains many unique components. For example, lactoferrin (a glycoprotein that belongs to the iron transporter or transferrin family) provides optimal absorption of iron and protects the gut from harmful bacteria; lipases assist in digestion of fats; and special growth factors and hormones contribute to optimal growth and development. The mother's own milk changes during a feeding from thirst-quenching to hunger-satisfying, and comes in a variety of flavors as the mother's diet varies. Its composition changes as the baby grows to meet the baby's changing nutritional needs.
Breastfeeding and the immune system:
Human milk is the baby's first immunization. It provides antibodies which protect the baby from many common respiratory and intestinal diseases, and also contains living immune cells. First milk, colostrum, is packed with components which increase immunity and protect the newborn's intestines. Breastfeeding as an infant also provides protection from developing immune system cancers such as lymphoma, bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and celiac sprue, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are related to immune system function. Additionally, breastfed babies generally mount a more effective response to childhood immunizations. In all these cases, benefits begin immediately, and increase with increasing duration of breastfeeding.
Babies from families with a tendency to allergic diseases particularly benefit from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding provides protection against allergies, asthma, and eczema.
Some conclusions come to by modern medicine concerning breastfeeding:
Breastfed babies:
Another important issue related to infant feeding and health is the interaction between infant feeding method and the environment. Breastfeeding is a completely natural, efficient use of resources. In contrast, artificial feeding involves overgrazing of land by cattle; use of chemical fertilizers to grow the soy; use of valuable environmental resources for formula production; packaging and transportation of the product; use of water and fuel for mixing the product and heating it, for sterilizing bottles and nipples; waste disposal of the cans, bottles, accessories, cartons, etc.
Despite this, the media and some environmental groups tend to play up issues of environmental contaminants in mother's milk. In fact, except in situations of toxic spills or occupational exposure to hazardous levels, breastfeeding has caused no ill effects in babies. To the contrary, studies comparing breastfed and bottle-fed babies in the same environment have shown better development and less cancer in the breastfed babies.