The mother serves as the Baby’s immune system during prenatal and postpartum stages.  The placenta passes maternal antibodies to the baby, and this protection persists for several weeks to months.  The fetus also breathes and ingests/digests amniotic fluid, which provides significant amounts of protien.  The colostrum is extremely concentrated with anti-infective properties.  In fact, evolutionary evidence sugests that the earliest function of colostrum was to protect the the you with nutirition being a secondary purpose.  Do you know what colosturm is?  Colostrum, by deffinition, is the thin yellowish/white fluid secreted by the mammary glands at the time of parturition that is rich in antibodies and minerals.  Human babies have a proportionally longer duration of colostrum feedings then other mammals.  The actions/features of milk components that protect the infant and the lactating breast are first; they actively bind to pathogens, thus preventing their passage through the permeable infant gut mucosa.  Components are highly targeted to foreign pathogens and ignor eth infant’s healthy gut flora.  Second, it binds and reduces availability of nutrients, vitamins, and/or minerals needed by pathogens.  Third, cellular components directly attack pathogens through phagocytosis.  Fourth, they trigger and enhance development and maturation of infant’s own immune system, including the increased effectiveness of immunizations.  Fifth, they support optimal growth and maturaton of the infant gut, respiratory, and urogenital tracts, and sixth, they prevent or reduce inflamation in infant organs and tissures which protects them from infections.  Lactation consultant certification is an interesting field to pursue.  Many new mothers need guidance with lactation and how the mammory glands work.  If you are interested in babys, lactation, mothers and newborns, sonography would be an excellent degree to pursue.  Lactation consultant certification could be an excellent complimentary profession to a sonography degree, or as a specialized degree in the allied health fields.

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