Benefits of Nursing

To suckle her baby is extremely important in terms of a mother's own health, as well as that of a baby. Unfortunately, the joint propaganda of some materialistic physicians in cohorts with baby-food manufacturers has heaped scorn on mothers' milk for years, almost making it an object for jeers. In recent years, science has been forced to a recognition of the World Health Organization has banned all derisive propaganda directed against it.

The nature of mothers' milk

It is known that nutritionally, man needs three basic foods, phosphorous and vitamins. All these substances, namely proteins, sugar, fats, phosphorous and vitamins are present in mothers' milk. There are antibodies in the mother's milk during the first six months that protect the baby against all infectious diseases. There are even antibodies protecting against measles in the milk of a mother who has never contracted measles, an inexplicable fact in biological terms. This can only be a divine indication of the value assigned to man by Allah.

Certain atheistic scientists have come forth with the ridiculous claim that the milk of mothers is deficient in iron. It has emerged in recent years, however, that blood is produced in the liver in infanthood (whereas it is produced in the bone marrow in adults), and that iron is already stored in the baby's liver even while it is in the mother's womb. It is biological imperative that the baby be nursed on milk during the first six months, since the liver, normally the center of digestive activities, is largely occupied with blood production in babies. Furthermore, the baby uses nutrition for the purposes of growth and development rather than energy. For this reason, it is next to impossible to select the required food types and vitamins. It is due to this fact that the growth and development of the baby has been brought under foolproof control by Divine Omnipotence with milk.

Duration of nursing

a) The liver is heavily loaded because it is producing blood, and hence there is a need for milk. It takes about two full years for the liver to recede into the background as regards blood production. For this reason, suckling should last two years.

b) According to the medical science, the most important phase of development, the period when basic biological materials are required is again two years.

Research on childhood mental disorders has shown that a child must suck for two years if his/her mental health is to be robust. A study performed on a global scale has revealed that no child has mental problems in Indonesia and the Philippines, and the research committee has found that this amazing fact is due to the sense of security and tenderness imparted to the baby during two years of suckling in those countries.

Benefits for the nursing mother

a) The healthy functioning of the mammary glands

Health statistics gathered the world over has shown that cancer of the breast occurs seldom in mothers who suckle their infants for 2 years. Mothers, who do not suckle on the contrary, run the greatest risk of contracting this disease. If only for this reason, 2 years of suckling by mothers should be encouraged.

b) Biological regeneration occurring in the mother's body during nursing

The liver functions at full capacity in a mother who suckles. All the chemical problems of the mother's body come under scrutiny in this way. Further, since all the required substances have to be mixed into the maternal blood, the mother's cells compensate for their deficiencies during nursing. Again, since the pituitary gland is in full control during suckling, the general hormone processes all function properly, and hence the psychological makeup of the mother is vastly improved. It is to be noted that despite being physically tired, nursing mothers are never ill-tempered. The reason for this is the harmonization of glandular secretions during nursing. Due to this hormonal balance, the womb and ovaries of the nursing mother are also afforded a period of rest and its simple disorders are also cured. Two years is the ideal duration of the nursing period for these benefits derived by the mother from nursing to fully manifest themselves. The nursing mother is healthy and the suckled baby is assured of a lifetime of health. These benefits were highlighted in the Quran long time back, which is a miracle in itself.