The nurse encourages a new mother to breastfeed her infant, even for a short time, because colostrum will provide the infant with which of the following types of immunity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Colostrum provides passive immunity through antibodies from the mother; these antibodies protect the infant for a few months. However, memory cells are not retained, so the protection is not permanent. Innate immunity is present at birth and occurs without exposure to an antigen. Active immunity requires that the infant manufacture antibodies after exposure to an antigen. Cell-mediated immunity is acquired through T-lymphocytes and is a form of active immunity.

The Nurse Encourages a New Mother to Breastfeed Her Infant