World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and to improve the health of babies around the world. Breastfeeding is the optimal source of nutrition through the first year of life and it is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. WHO (World Health Organization) recommends initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of the birth of a child. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for up to 6 months.
Breastfeeding benefits mother and baby in many ways.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for the baby:
Breastmilk helps build and support baby’s immune system.
Breastmilk is loaded with antibodies that help baby fight off viruses and bacteria.
Breastmilk promotes healthy weight gain and helps prevent childhood obesity.
Breastmilk is easier for baby to digest.
Breastmilk has DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that may help baby’s brain and eyes development.
Breastfeeding may reduce disease risk, including gut infection, ear infection, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, cold and respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, whooping cough.
Breastfed infants also have a lower risk of sudden death syndrome (SIDS).
Breastmilk has all the necessary nutrients that baby needs for the first 6 months of life.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for the mother:
Breastfeeding does burn more calories, which may help to lose weight gained during pregnancy. Those mothers who breastfeed are more likely to return to their pre-pregnancy weight than mothers who formula feed.
Women who have breastfed experience reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer later in life. Breastfeeding seems to provide with long term protection against cancer.
Breastfeeding releases the hormone Oxytocin which helps to contract the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size.
Release of good hormone such as Prolactin and Oxytocin that promotes a strong sense of love ,attachment and nurturing sensation and promote mothering behaviour.
Breastfeeding impacts the health of the mother and child in a positive ways and breastmilk is the best food for babies in the first year of life .It’s best to feed baby only breastmilk for at least 6 months .Keep breastfeeding for 12 months even when baby starts solid foods.
Author’s bio:
Ranu Singh is a Community Nutritionist. She is also Vice President Indian Association of Parenteral &Enteral Nutrition, Lucknow Chapter.
Faculty – Nutrition & Diabetes Core Group Indian Association of Parenteral &Enteral Nutrition. Founder of Nutrition Punch with more then 178K followers on Facebook page & Instagram. Head Uttar Pradesh, Global Nutrition Partnership Program of Indian Association of Parenteral &Enteral Nutrition, -American Society of Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition.
MSc. in Food & Nutrition.
