Describe the relationship between breastfeeding and an infant's infection risk

Answer 1

Breast milk offers the infant unsurpassed protection against infection. Its protective factors include antiviral agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antibacterial agents, and infection inhibitors. During the first two or three days of lactation, the breasts produce colostrum, a premilk substance containing antibodies and white cells from the mother's blood. Colostrum (like breast milk) helps protect the newborn infant from infections against which the mother has developed immunity—precisely those in the environment likely to infect the infant. For example, maternal antibodies in colostrum and breast milk inactivate harmful bacteria within the infant's digestive tract before they can start infections. This explains, in part, why breastfed infants have fewer intestinal infections than formula-fed infants. Breastfeeding also protects against other common illnesses of infancy, such as middle ear infections and respiratory illnesses. In addition, breastfed infants have fewer allergic reactions such as asthma, wheezing, and skin rash. This protection is especially noticeable among infants with a family history of allergies. Even the risk of SIDS is lower among breastfed infants. This protective effect is stronger when breastfeeding is exclusive, but any amount of breast milk for any duration is protective against SIDS.
In addition to their protective features, colostrum and breast milk contain hormones and other factors that stimulate the development and maintenance of the infant's digestive tract.