Breastfeeding is one of the most effective measures to ensure the health and survival of children. Optimal breastfeeding coupled with complementary feeding helps prevent the onset of malnutrition and saves the lives of approximately one million children.
Globally, the exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants up to 6 months of age is less than 40%. Providing adequate breastfeeding support to mothers and their families can save many young lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants and young children, and actively promotes breastfeeding. This fact sheet explores the many benefits of breastfeeding and what strong measures can be taken to help mothers increase breastfeeding rates globally.
1. WHO recommendation
WHO strongly recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. 6 months to 2 years of age or more, while continuing to breastfeed, supplement with other foods. In addition.
Breastfeeding is initiated in the first hour of life;
Breastfeeding “as needed”, that is, as soon as the baby needs it, day or night;
No bottles or comfort pacifiers.
2. Health benefits for infants
Breastmilk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. Breastmilk provides all the nutrients needed for healthy infant development. Breast milk is safe and contains antibodies that help infants fight common infant diseases – such as diarrheal disease and pneumonia, two diseases that cause infant deaths worldwide. Breastmilk is directly available, affordable and helps ensure that infants receive adequate nutrition.
3. Benefits to the mother
Breastfeeding also has benefits for the mother. When fully achieved, it can be associated with natural (though not absolutely safe) contraception (which is 98% protective for the first six months after birth). It can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in subsequent life stages and help women return to their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly and reduce the incidence of obesity.
4. Long-term benefits for children
In addition to the direct benefits mentioned above, breastfeeding is beneficial to the lifelong health of children. Adults who are breastfed during infancy and early childhood tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and lower rates of overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes. There is evidence that people who are breastfed have better IQ test scores.
5.Why not use powdered infant formula?
Powdered infant formula does not contain the antibodies present in breast milk. If powdered infant formula is not prepared properly, it can be dangerous due to the use of unsafe water and unsterilized equipment or due to the bacteria that may be present in powdered formula. Over-dilution of powdered formula to increase its duration of use can lead to malnutrition. In addition, regular breastfeeding can maintain the duration of breast milk. However, the use of powdered formula and lack of supply, to return to breastfeeding may not be feasible, because the amount of breast milk output is reduced.
6, HIV and breastfeeding
HIV-infected mothers can become infected during pregnancy, at birth, and through breastfeeding of their infants. Antiretroviral drug interventions for mothers or for HIV-exposed infants can reduce the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding. Together, breastfeeding and antiretroviral drug interventions can greatly improve an infant’s chances of survival while keeping him or her free of HIV infection. WHO recommends that when HIV-infected mothers breastfeed, they should be treated with antiretroviral drugs and follow WHO guidance on breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
7. Control of breast milk substitutes
In 1981, an international code to control the market for breast milk substitutes was adopted. The code requires that
that all powdered formula be labeled and informed about the benefits of breastfeeding and the health risks of using substitutes
No promotion of breast milk substitutes.
No free samples of substitutes be given to pregnant women, mothers and their families
No distribution of free or subsidized substitutes to health workers or health facilities.
8. The need to provide support to mothers
Breastfeeding requires learning, and many women encounter many difficulties at the beginning of feeding. Sore nipples, fear of insufficient breast milk to maintain the baby’s needs, etc. This is all very common. Health facilities that support breastfeeding can increase breastfeeding rates by providing counseling to first-time mothers by trained breastfeeding counselors. In order to support mothers and newborns and improve the level of care, more than 20,000 “baby-friendly” institutions have been established in 152 countries with the support of a joint initiative by WHO and UNICEF.
9. Work and breastfeeding
Many mothers give up breastfeeding completely or partially when they return to work because there is not enough time or place to breastfeed, express and store their milk. Mothers need a safe, clean and private place to continue breastfeeding at or near their workplace. What can help is to create favorable conditions at work, such as paid maternity leave, part-time work, local nurseries, facilities for expressing and storing mother’s milk, and time for breastfeeding.
10. Next step: Gradually add new foods
To meet the growing needs of 6-month-olds, complementary foods should be added while they continue to be breastfed. Complementary foods for infants can be prepared specifically or can be made from the family diet. WHO tips.
-breastfeeding should not be stopped when complementary foods are introduced.
-Spoons or cups, rather than bottles, should be used to give complementary foods to infants.
-Supplementary foods should be clean, safe and locally available.
-Toddlers need adequate time to learn to eat solid foods.