WORLD BREAST FEEDING WEEK 1st – 7th August
Breastfeeding is like the basic
foundation that has long-lasting
impacts on a baby s health and
development. It not only helps the baby
start healthy, but also helps build a very
unique and strong emotional bonding
between the mother and her child.
Human milk is the optimal source of
nutrition for the infant and young
children and has bioactive components
that safeguard infant growth and
development. Depriving infants from
this invaluable nutrition leads to
various undesirable consequences.
In 2011, WHO reported global childhood mortality rates (0 4 years) to be 51.4 per 1000 live births. In the same year,
the infant mortality rates in India were reported to be 47 per 1000 live births. Infectious diseases, particularly,
diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections, contribute significantly to infant mortality. Breastfeeding offers
protection against infectious disease related morbidity and mortality in infants and children. Optimum growth
and development is acquired through exclusive breastfeeding. Both physical as well as mental development
are associated with productivity and economic growth of an individual and hence the country.
Human milk is the only recommended food for infants. It contains phagocytic and immunocompetent
cells, provides
optimal
nutrition
and
promotes
maturation
of
the
intestinal
mucosa.
It protects against several acute and chronic diseases. The incidence as well as severity of diarrhea, lower
respiratory infection, otitis media, bacterial meningitis, botulism, urinary tract infection, and necrotising
enterocolitis, is known to be reduced with breastfeeding.
Breast feeding offers protection against sudden infant death syndrome, type 1 diabetes mellitus, Crohn s disease,
ulcerative colitis, lymphoma, allergic diseases and other chronic digestive diseases. Another major benefit is the
enhancement of cognitive development in infants.
In addition to providing invaluable benefits to infants,
breastfeeding is also beneficial for the mothers. Women who breastfeed are known to have a lower incidence of hip
fractures after menopause, ovarian and premenopausal breast cancer, and less postpartum bleeding. Owing to all
these benefits, healthcare professionals, all over the world, strongly recommend breastfeeding.
In addition to offering several health benefits to the infants and mothers, breastfeeding is also economical due to the
reduced healthcare costs (due to less illness) and saved time and wages lost while attending an ill child.