World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August all across the globe. The aim of the day is to encourage breastfeeding while improving the health of babies all around the world. The week gives a wider push towards maternal health while focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction and food security.

The day honor the Innocenti Declaration signed in the year 1990 in August by the government policy makers including WHO, UNICEF and other organizations which came forward to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Also Read : Breast Feeding: Boosts Immunity & Brain Development World Breastfeeding Week

Every year the event is coordinated by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and is celebrated in more than 170 countries all across the globe. WABA is a global network whose main aim is to promote, protect and support breastfeeding anywhere and anytime. WABA also work with World Health Organization and UNICEF to spread its benefit to the right people in the right communities.

Every year the week is followed by a specific theme and this year the theme for the week is Breastfeeding- Foundation of Life.

Breastfeeding is considered as one of the best way to provide all the necessary nutrients required by the infants. As per WHO breastfeeding needs to start within one hour after the birth until the baby doesn’t turn up 6 months old. Once the baby completes his/her 6 months, nutritious complementary food then should be added along with breastfeeding for up to 2 years and beyond.

Also Read : Women’s Health – Cancer, depression major health issues

Breastfeeding not only prevents hunger and malnutrition in all its form but also ensures food security for babies even in the time of crisis. Breast Milk works as baby’s first vaccine, protecting infants from various potentially deadly diseases and providing them all the nourishment which they need to survive and thrive.

Breastfeeding in India:

India is supposed to be a “Breastfeeding Nation” but the breastfeeding rate in the country does not support this plea. As per national data sources it has been observed that about 44% of babies which means 12 million out of 26 million babies are being breastfed within one hour of their birth, while the majority of the babies are given formula milk, either powdered, liquid or animal milk.

Also Read : Women are a symbol of Power

India is independently accountable for more than one fifth of the world’s neonatal deaths. In the year 2016, about 6 lakhs children died in the country within 28 days after their birth and about 26 lakhs neonatal deaths were reported globally during the same time.

What’s in Breast Milk?

Breast Milk contains various nutritious elements for the baby such as:

• Water
• Protein
• Lactose
• Essential fatty acids
• Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Breast-specific macrophages
• Antibodies
• Hormones and growth factors
• Stem cell and epithelial lactocytes
• Oligosaccharides
• As many as 800 strains of bacteria
• Antibacterial and antiviral enzymes
• Vitamins and minerals

Also Read : Approach To Breast Cancer / Lump And Treatment For Breast Cancer

Benefits of breastfeeding:

Breastfeeding is beneficial and important for both child and maternal health.

For Child:

• With breastfeeding about 20% newborns deaths can be prevented.
• Breast milk produces antibodies and thus increases the immunity of the baby while protecting child against pneumonia.
• According to various researches it has been observed that those babies who have been breastfed have lower risk of asthma, leukemia, obesity, ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome and other health complications.
• Babies who are being breastfed have better mental development along with emotional security.

For Mothers:

• Breastfeeding reduces 28% chances of breast cancer
• The chance of developing ovarian cancer reduces to 21% once a mother start breastfeeding her baby.
• Each year breastfeeding reduces up to 12% chances of getting affected with type 2 diabetes.

 Also Read :  Healthy woman ensures healthy family, protect their rights

Facts about breastfeeding:

• Only 38% of infants between 0-6 months are exclusively breastfed globally
• Breastfeeding within the first hour can prevent 20% of newborn deaths
• Breast milk produced by women in the first few days after the birth is known as Colostrum, which is very important for the infants as it decreases neonatal and post neonatal deaths.
• Breastfeeding is least expensive
• Infants who are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their age are 11 less likely to die from diarrhea and 15 times less likely to die from pneumonia.

“A newborn baby has only 3 demands: Warmth in the arms of the mother, food from her breast and security in the knowledge of her presence. Therefore, breastfeeding satisfies all the 3 demands of the baby.”- says Dr. (MAJ) Shaifali Bhatia, Sr. Consultant Pediatrician. You can enquire or book an appointment at +919910492867 or e-mail: [email protected]

The team of doctors at Metro Group of Hospitals lays special focus and counsel expecting mothers to promote breastfeeding.