World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated August 1st– 7th every year. This year’s World Breastfeeding Week slogan is “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”.
Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Infants should be exclusively breastfed – that is, receive only breast milk – for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. It is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers.
“Exclusive breastfeeding” is defined as giving no other food or drink – not even water – except breast milk. It does, however, allow the infant to receive oral rehydration salts (ORS), drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals and medicines).
Colostrum, the yellowish, sticky breast milk produced at the end of pregnancy, is recommended by WHO as the perfect food for the newborn, and feeding should be initiated within the first hour after birth. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.
Globally, only 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed, but Nigeria’s exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates is as low as 28%, this is far below the global goal of 50% by 2025.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development, and protects the infant against infectious and chronic diseases.
Exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality due to common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea or pneumonia, and helps for a quicker recovery during illness.
Adolescents and adults who were breastfeed as babies are less likely to develop type II diabetes and they perform better in intelligence test.
Breast milk is always ready and good for the environment;
• It is available wherever and whenever your baby needs it.
• It is always at the right temperature, clean and free.
• No bottles to clean.
• Breastfeeding has no waste, so it is good for the environment.
Mothers who breastfeed:
• Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with natural (though not fail-safe) method of birth control (98% protection in the first six month after birth).
• Have a reduced risk of Type II Diabetes and certain cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer
• May find it easier to return to what they weighed before they got pregnant
• Strengthen the bond with their children
• It is cost effective.
