Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

A R C H I V E S

Breastfeeding

Madina Archives


Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

Breastfeeding
Fatimah
08/12/02 at 10:25:59
[slm]
Breastfeeding

The Noble Qur'an - Luqmaan 31:14

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Baqarah 2:233 regarding divorced couples...

The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling, but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear. No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account of his child. And on the (father's) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father). If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no sin on them. And if you decide on a foster suckling-mother for your children, there is no sin on you, provided you pay (the mother) what you agreed (to give her) on reasonable basis. And fear Allâh and know that Allâh is All-Seer of what you do.

The child has the right to be fed breast milk (by the mother or foster-mother) for two full years, until weaned (eating solid foods). Even if the mother is to be executed for a crime, the baby's right comes first. Parents should not feed baby formula (powdered milk, etc.) to a child who has not yet been weaned as a substitution for breastmilk unless all other viable options are exhausted in an effort to provide obtaining breast milk (for instance: medical problems, death of the mother and unavailability of a wet-nurse).

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 41.5

Malik related to me from Yaqub ibn Zayd ibn Talha from his father Zayd ibn Talha that Abdullah ibn Abi Mulayka informed him that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and informed him that she had committed adultery and was pregnant. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to her, "Go away until you give birth." When she had given birth, she came to him. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to her, "Go away until you have suckled and weaned the baby." When she had weaned the baby, she came to him. He said, "Go and entrust the baby to someone." She entrusted the baby to someone and then came to him. He gave the order and she was stoned.

Please note that nobody will get it to be exactly two years, as the length of weaning until the child is actually weaned, depends on the child (statistically it takes a few months up to 6 mo. approx). But it appears clear that the goal, barring any health risks or condition that would prevent breastfeeding, should be two Islamic years of breastfeeding and that the child should completely be weaned off the breast sometime shortly after the completion of two years.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 1 of 10, p. 654, under section "No Darar (Harm) or Dirar (Revenge)":

"We should state that Ibn Jarir has explained this subject in detail in his Tafsir and that he also stated that suckling the child after the second year might harm the child's body and mind. Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated that 'Alqamah asked a woman who was suckling her child after the second year ended, not to do that. (At-Tabari)".

____________
The following excerpt is taken from The Fragile Vessels (Book Three- The Muslim Family) written by Muhammad Al-Jibaly, p. 92-96.

Breastfeeding the Children

A woman has the obligation of breast feeding her children for up to two complete years. Allah says: "Mothers should nurse their children two complete years-- for whosoever desires to complete the nursing term." (Al Baqarah 2:233)

A woman may not forsake this important obligation unless she has an ISLAMICALLY acceptable excuse, such as a genuine medial problem. Women who deny their children their nursing rights are liable to punishment in the grave and in the Hereafter.

Abu Umamah al-Bahili reported that Allah's Messenger (saw) said:
"While I was sleeping, two men (angels) came to me, held my upper arms, and took me to a rough mountain. They said," Climb." I said," I cannot climb it."

They said, " We will make it easy for you."

He continued: " So I ascended until I reached a high place in the mountain. I heard fierce cries and asked, " What are those cries?" The replied, " That is the howling of the people of the Fire."

He continued: "We moved on until I saw some people who were suspended by their Achilles' tendons, their cheeks cut and gushing blood. I asked, "Who are those?" The replied, "Those are the ones who break their fast when it is not permissible."

He continued: "We moved on until I saw people whowere awfully swollen, and had the most foul stench and the most hideous appearance. I asked," Who are those?" He replied,"Those are the dead of the kuffar (on the battlefield)."

He continued: "We moved on until I saw some people who were awfully swollen, and had the most foul stench--their stench was like that of gutters. I asked," Who are those?" The replied," Those are the male and female adulterers."

He continued: "We moved on until I saw some women with snakes biting at their breasts. I asked," Who are those?" The replied, " Those are the women who deny their children their milk."

He continued: "We moved on until I saw boys playing between two rivers. I asked," who are those?" The replied, " Those are the believers' offspring (who die before puberty.)

Recorded by Ibn Khuzaymah (no.1986), Ibn Hibban and others. Verified to be authentic by Sheikh Albani (Sahih ut-Targhib no.991)

08/12/02 at 10:27:41
Fatimah
Re: Breastfeeding
Asifa
08/14/02 at 06:57:30
[slm]

BREAST-FEEDING IN ISLAM
Dr. Ihsan Dogramaci, TURKEY
Taken from http://www.islamset.com/hip/dogramaci.html

It is only recently that modern scientific research has brought
to light the paramount importance of breastfeeding to the health of the
child. Islam has known and emphasized this fact for some 1400 years. As
one who has devoted his life to child health, this seemed a fitting
topic for me to speak on at this conference.

Decline in BreastFeeding (Philippines)
1950 (Urban Poor) (Elite) 1978  

During my training in pediatrics in the United States some 40 years ago, a number of leading pediatricians were doubting the superiority
of breast milk over "more scientifically" prepared, and I am saying
"morescientifically" in quotations, formula. These formulae were designed
to meet the needs, sometimes very special, of the individual newborn.
An example of such a special instance was the nutritional need of a
prematurely born or low birthweight baby requiring more protein than a
full-term baby of normal weight. As we know, the protein content in cow's
milk is three to four times higher than in human milk, and therefore in
such instances formulae prepared from cow's milk were presumed to meet
the baby's needs better.

In the United States at that time, when discharging their patients from the obstetric wards, it was routine for the doctors to prescribe a formula to be given to the baby. In the case of poor families, however, or where there was norefrigeration, breastfeeding was acceptable. ,The convenience for the mothers of not breasfeeding was considered an additional advantage, especially in industrialized countries where women are often used in the labor force. In the 1940s, more than three-quarters of the babies were already being bottlefed before leaving the maternity ward and when breastfeeding was instituted the duration was usually for 2-3 months. By 5-6 months of age no more than 5% of babies were still receiving mother's milk. These figures reflect the general population, and among the better educated the incidence was far less.

The trend towards artificial feeding spread to some of the developing countries, too. As an example (figure 1 ), in the Philippines in 1950 some 90% of babies were breastfeeding, while in the year 1978 the percentage dropped to 66 among the urban poor population. In the same country in the same year, not more than 27% of the mothers in the elite brackets of society were breastfeeding their babies1.

To underestimate the benefits of breastfeeding is in contradiction to the teachings of Islam, where breastfeeding is a must for all mothers who can do so and weaning should be at about two years of age.

Yesterday at the inaugural session I quoted two verses in this
connection from the Holy Quran. Now I am going to add some more.

The verse from Al-Ahqaf is interpreted as follows:

WE HAVE ENJOINED MAN TO SHOW KINDNESS TO HIS PARENTS. WITH MUCH PAIN HIS MOTHER BEARS HIM, AND WITH MUCH PAIN SHE BRINGS HIM INTO THE WORL.D. HE IS BORN AND WEANED IN THIRTY MONTHS.

The verse from El-Baqharah tells us:

MOTHERS SHALL SUCKLE THEIR CHILDREN FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS; (THAT
IS) FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO COMPLETE THE SUCKLING. THE DUTY OF FEEDING AND CLOTHING NURSING MOTHERS IN A SEEMLY MANNER IS UPON THE FATHER OF THE CHILD.

The English of the Luqman verse is:

WE ENJOINED MAN TO SHOW KINDNESS TO HIS PARENTS, FOR WITH MUCH
PAIN HIS MOTHER BEARS HIM AND HE IS NOT WEANED BEFORE HE IS TWO YEARS OF
AGE.

The English of the Story verse is:

AND WE INSPIRED THE MOTHER OF MOSES, SAYING: SUCKLE HIM

Research during the past ten years has given us much new
knowledge regarding the properties of human milk, properties entirely unknown earlier, and its superiority has been so well established that even in the most developed and industrialized countries mothers are again
breastfeeding their babies. I would like to illustrate this trend.

In the United States, for example (figure 2), in 1971 fewer than one-quarter of mothers in the maternity wards were breastfeeding their
babies during the first days of life, and at 5-6 months of age only
5.5% of babies were still receiving breast milk.. In the mid-1 970's, when
the new knowledge was made available about the unmatchable qualities of breast milk, mothers, especially in the more educated groups, started
breastfeeding their babies so that by the year 1980, of the mothers in
the maternity wards, more than double the number (55.3%) were found to
be breastfeeding. Nearly 5 times as many mothers (24.9%) were continuing to breastfeed when their infants were 5-6 months old2.

Revival of Breast Feeding (USA)
         
              1971  1980     1971  1980
             In Hospital      At 5-6 months

The same trend was also observed in the Scandinalvian countries.
In Norway, for example (figure 3), in 1970 the incidence of mothers
breastfeeding at 3 months was 22%, but this increased in the years that
followed to reach some 70% in 19803. These are the published figures, and we are informed that during the last four years the increase has been
continuing.

Why did this happen? It is because the most sophisticated investigations, carried out in laboratories in the West, have shown that the doubts regarding the uniqueness of breast milk, which had been prevalent
for some 30-40 years in the West, were entirely unfounded. Of course,
this was no news for the Islamic world.

Let me share with you some of the recent advances in our
knowledge concerning the composition and functions of human milk. For many years pediatricians had been misled by the fact that in cow's milk there is 3-4 times as much protein as there is in human milk. Of course quality is always more important than quantity but it is only very recently
that research has taught us just how ideal is the quality of the
relatively small percentage of protein in human milk.

In table 1 we see that what is important is the whey protein
content, for it is this which fosters the development of the child. There
is more than 70% of it in human milk and less than 20% in cow's milk4.

It has also been discovered that the protein content of human
milk is indirectly proportional to the maturity of the newborn baby. In
other words, the smaller the baby, the higher the protein content of the
mother's milk5. Further, the protein content in human milk is not
constant in the mother. It varies from day to day and even at different
times during the same day, to suit the exact needs of the suckling.

In table 2 we see that the distribution of amino acids in human milk is such as to meet the very special requirements of the human baby.
Here are a few examples:

- an excess of phenylalanine and tyrosine is known to be harmful
for neonates, and there are only very small amounts of these amino
acids in human milk1.
- for the growth of an infant, and especially of a neonate,
cystine is very important. Human milk, unlike cow's milk, is rich in this
amino acid1,6.
- normally cystine is converted from methionine. Cow's milk
contains more methionine than human milk, but neonates are unable to convert methionine into cystine due to the immaturity of the enzyme system6.
- and the last point, taurine is one of the most important of the
amino acids, especially for brain development, and it is of interest to
note that the taurine content of human milk is 30-40 times higher than
that of cow's milk7,8. Biochemically human milk has further advantages
over cow's milk and in the following table we see these advantages.

TABLE 3
FURTHER BIOCHEMICAL ADVANTAGES OF HUMAN MILK

- Low sodium concentration in breast milk protects the newborn
against dehydration and hypernatremia4.
- 50-70% of iron is absorbed from human milk compared to 10-30%
from cow's milk9.
- Human milk contains a zinc-binding molecule, picolinic acid,
which leads to more efficient absorption of zinc from mother's milk than
from cow's milk10.
- The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in breast milk is more
suitable for bone mineralization than the ratio of those minerals in cow's
milk11.
- The cholesterol content of human milk is higher than in cow's
milk (0.16 vs. 0.110 grams per 1iter)12.
 The essential fatty acid content is higher in human milk than
in cow's milk (10.6% vs. 2.1%)4.
- Better absorbed 2-attached palmitic acid content is higher in
human milk than in cow's milk (74% vs. 39%)13.
- The presence of bile-salt dependent lipase in human milk makes
the fats more absorbablel13.
- Substantial amounts of epidermal growth factor (EGP) are
present in human milk14.

Besides its biochemical properties, there are certain biological
factors in human milk which make it anti-infective and this explains
why babies who are not breastfed are so much more prone to infectious
diseases. The anti-infective properties in human milk include the
following: 15-17.

- The presence of live cells, including lymphocytes, neutrophils
and macrophages in human milk, contributes significantly to its
anti-infective properties. The numbers of these cells are highest in colostrum and they appear to secrete lgA, lactoferrin, lysozyme and interferon. Interferon may inhibit the activity of certain viruses.
- Immunoglobulins, namely secretory immunoglobulin A (SigA), are
present in large amounts in colostrum and to a lesser extent in mature
human milk. SigA is resorbed only in significant amounts but has an
effect against certain bacteria such as E. coli, shigella, salmonella and
Vibrio cholerae. There are also SigA antibodies against certain
viruses, including rota virus, which is the commonest diarrhea agent, against polio virus and against Coxsackie, enterovirus, influenza A and
respiratory syncylial virus.
- Lactoferrin, a protein which binds iron to itself, is found in
human milk. It has a bacterial static effect on E.coli, streptococcus
mutants and staphylococcus aureus. - Lysozyme which contributes to
bacterial lysis, is present in amounts several thousand times higher in
human milk than in cow's milk.
- Breast milk contains "bifidus factor" which promotes the growth
of lactobacillus.
- Lactoperoxyclase in human milk acts with hydrogen peroxidase
and thiocyanate ions and thus exerts a bacteriostatic effect on
streplococci.
- Finally complements (and especially C3) help bacterial
opsonization and phagocytic killing.

Some bottle-fed babies may gain weight faster than their
breastfed counterparts. The quantity of breast milk is adjusted to the need of the growing baby, whereas formulae are given in the quantities and
strengths the mother wishes, and she may give more than necessary in order to make sure her baby gains weight. This may make some parents happy, but we know now that such babies are more prone to obesity, hypertension and coronary disease in adult life 18.

The psychological factors attached to breastfeeding in contrast
to artificial feeding have been well established, and therefore I am not
going to expand on them.

How long should the baby be breastfed? The first six months are a
must, but up to two years is very desirable in many cases as ordered in
the Holy Quran and the Hadith. In this connection one of the
publications of the World Health Organization, A Manual for the Treatment of Acute Diarrhoea of the Programme for the Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases
(WHO/C13D/SER/80.2) states:

Exclusive breast feeding for 4-6 months - - offered as often and
as freely as the infant desires it and continued breast feeding up to
at least two years of age are most important in the prevention of
infantile diarrhoea. Breast milk is the best food for infants and has
immunological properties which help prevent infection including diarrhoea.

Jelliffe and others are among those who advocate the same
two-years period whenever feasible. In short, the West, after exhaustive
investigations, has come to what was ordered 1400 years ago in the Holy
Quran.

     REFERENCES

     1. SANTOS OCAMPO P. "Country Reports: Philippines". In Valyasevi
A. Baker J. (eds.) Proceedings of Workshop on Breastfeeding and
Supplementary Foods. Bangkok: Bangkok Medical Publisher, 1980, p.35.
     2. MARTINEZ GA, DODD DA, SAMARTGEDES JA. "MilkFeeding Patterns in
the United States during the first 12 months of fife". Pediatrics
68:863, 1981.
     3. HELSING E. "Infant Feeding in Norway, a Preliminary Overview".
Report to WHO Regional Committee 1981, Oslo, 1981, p.2.
     4. HAM B RAEUS L. "Propriatary milk versus human breast milk in
infant feeding": a critical appraisal from the nutritional point of
view. Pediatr. Clin. North Am. 24:17, 1977.
     5. ATKINSON JA, BRYAN H, ANDERSON H. "Humanmilk feeding in
premature infants": protein, fat, and carbohydrate in the first two weeks of
life. J. Pediatr. 99:617, 1981.
     6. STURMAN JA GAULL G, RA1HA NCR. "Absence of cystathionase in
human fetal liver": Is cystine essential? Science 169:74, 1970.
     7. GYORGY P. "Biochemical aspects of human milk". Am. J Clin.
Nutr. 24:970, 1971.
     8. STURMAN JA, RASSIN DK, GAULL GE. "Taurine in developing rat
brain". Transfer of (355) taurine to pups via the milk, Pediatr. Res. 11
:28, 1977.
     9. SAARINEN UM, SHMES MA, DALLMAN PR. "Iron absorption in
infants": High bioavailability of breast milk iron as indicated by the
extrinsic tag method of iron absorption and by the concentration of serum
ferritin. J. Pediatr. 91:36, 1977.
     10. DUNCAN JR, HURLEY LS. "Intestinal absorption of zinc": a role
for a zinc-binding ligand in milk. Am. J. Physiol. 235:556, 1978.
     11. GREER FR, TSNAG RC, LEVIN RS et. al. "Increasing serum
calcium and magnesium concentrations in breast-fed infants". J Pediatr
100:59, 1982.
     12. FRIEDMAN G, GOLDBERG SJ. "Concurrent and subsequent serum
cholesterol of breast and formula-fed infants". Am J Clin Nutr 28:42,
1975.
     13. WIDDOWSON EM, "Nutrition". In Davis JA. Dobbing J (eds).
Scientific Foundations of Pediatrics. London: Heinemann Med., 1974, p.44.
     14. MORAN JR, COURTNEY ME, ORTH DN, et. al. "Epidermal growth
factor in human milk". Daily production and diurnal variation during early
lactation in mothers delivering at term and at premature gestation. J.
Pediatr. 103:402, 1983.
     15. CHANDRA RK. "Immunological aspects of human milk". Nutr. Rev.
36:265, 1978.
     16. BROCK JH. "Lactoferrin in human milk": Its role in iron
absorption and protection against enteric infection in the newborn infant.
Arch Dis Child 55:617, 1980.
     17. DOWN HAM MAPS, SCOTT R, SIMS DG, et. al. "Breastfeeding
protects against respiratory syncitial virus infections". Br Mad J 2:274,
1976.
     18. KRAMER MS. "Dobreast-feeding and delayed introduction of
solidfoods against subsequent obesity?". J Pediatr 98:883, 1981.

     TABLE 1

           TOTAL PROTEIN CONTENT
           Human Milk Cow's Milk
           1.0% 3.5%
           WHEN PROTEIN CONTENT
           (Biologically very important)
           Human Milk Cow's Milk
           >70% <20%

     TABLE 2

     COMPARISON OF THE AMINO ACID CONTENT OF HUMAN MILK AND COW'S MILK

           Phenylalanine and tyrosine Human milk contains less
           (excess may be harmful for neonates)
           Cystine Richer in human milk
           (essential for growth)
           Methionine Richer in cow's milk
           (neonates cannot convert to cystine due to the immaturity
of enzymes)  
           Taurine 30-4- times richer in human milk than in cow's milk
(important for brain development)

     TABLE 3

     FURTHER BIOCHEMICAL ADVANTAGES OF HUMAN MILK

     - Low sodium concentration in breast milk protects the newborn
against dehydration and hypernatremia.
     - 50-70% of iron is absorbed from human milk compared to 10-30%
from cow's milk .
     - Human milk contains a zinc-binding molecule, picolinic acid,
leading to more efficient absorption of zinc from mother's milk than from
cow's milk.
     - Calcium, phosphorus ratio inbreast milk is more suitable for
bone mineralization than this ration in cow's milk.
     - Cholesterol content of human milk is higher than in cow's milk
(0.16 vs. 0.110 grams per liter).
     - Essential fatty acid content is higher in human milk than in
cow's milk (10.6% vs. 2.1%).
     - Better absorbed 2-attached palmitic acid content is higher in
human milk than in cow's milk (74% vs. 39%).
     - Presence of bile-salt dependent lipase in human milk makes fats
more absorbable.
     - Substantial amounts of epidermal growth factor (EGF) present in
human milk.

     TABLE 4

     BREAST MILK CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ANTI-INFECTIVE PROPERTIES.

     - Live cells (lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages)
     - Immunoglobulins (specifically S-lgA).
     - Lactoferrin (bacteriostatic effect on E.coli, streptococcus
mutants, staphylococcus aureus).
     - Lysozyme (lysis of gram-psitive bacterial)
     - Bifidus factor (promotes lactobacillus flora)
     - Lactoperoxydase (bacteriostatic against streptococci)
     - Complements (specifically C3, helps bacterial opsonization,
phagocytic killing).


Jazak Allah Khair
Your sister in Islam
Asifa
NS
Re: Breastfeeding
eleanor
08/15/02 at 00:55:23
[slm]

just on a personal note: my sister is breastfeeding her daughter who is now 6 weeks old. She hasn't had it easy; she had a casaerian section and her milk "came in" 8 days after the baby was born. Due to low levels of breast milk, she has been supplementing her daughter's diet with small amounts of formula, because the baby continued to lose weight until she was four/five weeks old. As far as I know she still hasn't regained her birth weight.
But, Alhamdulillah, my sister is adamant that this is going to work. She knows that this is the best thing for the baby, and therefore is trying her best.
When my sister was born (1971) my mother says that the issue of breastfeeding was never even raised. Breastfeeding was an "old-fashioned" and "outdated" method of feeding your baby. Sadly, my mother was not very assertive and went with what the doctors said. By the time I was born however, she had breastfed my older brother and breastfed me and my younger brother. And now she is fully supportive of my sister breastfeeding her own baby.
My sister's mother in law, is sadly very much against breastfeeding. She turns away in disgust when my sister latches the baby on. When my mother asked her if she had breastfed her children she replied very negatively "No I certainly did not", with the air of one who is far higher and above such things. Recently she told my sister that she should start to wean the baby off the breast so that my sister could go on holiday without the baby (??). Alhamdulillah, my sister replied that the WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends breastfeeding for two years.

The above people mentioned are all non-Muslim.


Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
A R C H I V E S

Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.
The rest © Jannah.Org