Q. Why is maternal milk important for the immune protection of the baby?
Besides being nutritionally important like maternal milk participates in the defense of the baby against infectious agents soon after delivery the mother produces more fluid milk called colostrum that is rich in immunoglobulins (antibodies). These antibodies are not absorbed by the baby's circulation but making more difficult the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria within the organ and they cover the internal surface of the baby's bowels thus attacking possible antigens.