Breast milk is the best and it is acknowledged widely as the best food for babies because this milk contains complete nutrients and helps the infants’ growth, immunity and development. WHO and UNICEF suggests breast milk should be given within one hour of birth and continues up to at least 6 months
‘Colostrums’, the yellowish, sticky breast milk produced at the end of pregnancy, is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) as the perfect food for the newborn.
However, in these times, mothers, particularly working women’s, don’t urge their newborns to their hectic schedules.
But, many infants do not get possible feeding. According to WHO, only about 38% of infants getting breast feed. But In India, 41% mothers initiate early breastfeeding, reported by NGO.
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) was first celebrated in 1992 by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and it is now followed over 174 countries worldwide and this becomes an annual celebration which is being held from 1st to 7th August every year with the goal to promote breastfeeding.
Benefits of breastfeeding:
Studies have proven a number of health benefits such as:
1. Breastfed kids have more immunity and they are resistant to diseases.
2. Early initiation of breastfeeding, within one hour of birth, keeps the infant from acquiring infections and reduces newborn mortality. The mortality risk due to diarrhea and other infections can increase infants who are either partially breastfed or not at all breastfed.
3. Adults who were breastfed as babies they don’t have a chance of getting overweight /obese.
4. Breastfed kids are less likely to life juvenile diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and cancer before the age of 15.
5. Breastfeeding protects against Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioral condition in children and teens.
6. Breastfeeding moms are less likely to get osteoporosis later in life; breastfeeding also reduces the risk of ovarian, uterine and breast cancer.
7. Breastfeeding helps mothers lose weight gained during pregnancy and can also reduce stress level and risk of postpartum depression.
8. New research has linked breastfeeding with kids’ intelligence. Breastfeeding has also economic advantages as you do not need to spend money to buy formula. It also helps avoid medical bills later as it helps equip the infant to fight off disease and infection.