Final answer:
The purpose of breastfeeding post-emergency birth is to nourish the infant, convey passive immunity, promote maternal recovery through uterine contractions and metabolic increase, and provide colostrum for immune support.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of encouraging a woman to breastfeed her newborn after an emergency birth is to provide the infant with ideal nutrition, facilitate passive immunity, and support the mother's physical recovery. Breastfeeding initiates the release of oxytocin, which not only promotes milk ejection for the infant's nourishment but also causes mild uterine contractions that aid in the involution of the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size.
Moreover, the process helps the mother to metabolize the fat reserves accumulated during pregnancy. Colostrum, the milk produced immediately after birth, is particularly rich in immunoglobulins that bolster the newborn's immune system, while also helping their digestive system to clear bilirubin and expel meconium.