Assertion (A): Doctors recommend breastfeeding during the initial period of infant growth for raising a healthy baby.
Reason (R): Colostrum contains several antibodies that are essential for developing resistance in the newborn baby.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Assertion (A): Doctors recommend breastfeeding during the initial period of infant growth for raising a healthy baby. — True. A is about breast-feeding the newborn. Doctors recommend breast-feeding during the early period of the infant’s growth to bring up a healthy baby.
Reason (R): Colostrum contains several antibodies that are essential for developing resistance in the newborn baby. — True. R is about colostrum, the milk made in the first few days of lactation. Colostrum contains several antibodies (mainly IgA) that the newborn needs to develop resistance.
Why R explains A? A newborn baby’s own immune system is not yet ready. When it is breast-fed, it receives the ready-made antibodies in colostrum, which protect it from infections. This is a form of passive immunity. So the antibodies in colostrum are the reason doctors advise breast-feeding, and R is the correct explanation of A.
NCERT Extract:
Parturition and Lactation – “… The milk produced during the initial few days of lactation is called colostrum which contains several antibodies absolutely essential to develop resistance for the new-born babies. Breast-feeding during the initial period of infant growth is recommended by doctors for bringing up a healthy baby.”