A lactation nurse visits a new mother after delivery of her first child and encourages the mother to breast-feed her infant, even for a short time. Which statement made by the nurse correctly explains the importance of breast-feeding?

Answer: Colostrum will provide the infant with passive immunity for several months to diseases to which the mother has immunity

Explanation:

The colostrum can be defined as the milky fluid that is released by the mammary glands of the mother in the case of mammals before the birth of the fetus occurs.

The colostrum is an important source of nourishment that promotes the growth of the fetus and it also provides passive immunity in the early growth period of the infant to several months after birth to fight against the diseases. A lactation period is a duration till which the mother the mammary glands secretes the milk.