Evidence- based medical research has clearly established that mother’s milk is the ‘perfect first food’ for the newborn physiologically and psychologically, lactation consultant Dr Padmini Balagopal of MILC Centre (Mothers’ & Infants’ Lactation/Breast-feeding Care Centre) at Mylapore in Chennai has said.

Dr Padmini was speaking at a programme in the city on Friday. She said that mother’s milk was nature’s gift to the baby. As soon as a baby is born,  mother’s milk that is secreted is called the colostrum.

That was the ideal for the baby’s stomach and added that with a concentration of carbohydrates and proteins and a low fat content it is easily digested. It also has a laxative effect and it helps to get rid of bilirubin that accumulates with child birth (as this can cause jaundice, if in excess).

She further said that human-milk is a species-specific first food that also helps the newborn develop a strong immune system to fight the many infections he or she would face.

She also said that studies had revealed that babies fed on human milk may have a higher IQ than babies fed on artificial formulas, hence breast-feeding has been acclaimed as a strong preventive factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardio-vascular disease, obesity and even for some cancers.

MILC Centre is the brainchild of pediatricians Dr S Subramanian and Dr S Meenakshi Subramanian. They set up this centre with Dr Padmini Balagopal, a certified lactation consultant. The centre would also be providing opportunities for health professionals to get acquainted with this growing field. This centre can be reached at 044-24992737.