Prioritise Breastfeeding:
Create Sustainable Support Systems
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August. Breastfeeding is more than a personal choice, as it provides infants with many advantages, and has many nutrients tailored to a baby’s developmental needs. Not all mothers can feed their babies as required due to medical or physiological reasons. Hence, there is a need for supplemental feeding alongside breastfeeding. Refusal or inability to breastfeed is more common in wealthier societies. Many women do feel that breastfeeding impacts their physical appearance, and this perception can influence their decision to breastfeed or continue breastfeeding. Changes do happen, and that is something to do with bearing the child rather than breastfeeding. In many communities, talking about breastfeeding is still considered taboo. Anything related to breasts is sexualised, making discussions about breastfeeding uncomfortable or inappropriate in public or mixed-gender settings. The observation of World Breastfeeding Week is to bring people together to support mothers and highlight the importance of breastfeeding, both for babies and mothers.
Building Healthcare Systems
That Truly Support Breastfeeding
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August, championed by the WHO, UNICEF, Ministries of Health, and World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. More than 170 countries have joined the observation. While most nations observe the August 1-7 week, a few, such as Switzerland and France, do it in other weeks of the year.
Breastfeeding is more than a personal choice, as it provides infants with many advantages, and has many nutrients tailored to a baby’s developmental needs. It is also reported that babies breastfed have higher IQ scores and better brain development. Breastfeeding forms a strong love relationship between the mother and child and plays a role in long-term health for both.
Breastfeeding is a natural and legal right in many countries, including India. Mothers can feed their babies anywhere they are allowed to be. Some countries have notably low rates of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a baby’s life.
Not all mothers can feed their babies to the required (5-15%) due to medical or physiological reasons. Hence, there is a need for supplemental feeding alongside breastfeeding. It is accepted that infant food manufacturing companies conflict with breastfeeding promotion efforts.
Refusal or inability to breastfeed is more common in wealthier societies. A mix of cultural, economic, and systemic factors influences it. UNICEF and WHO data indicate that in high-income countries, 20% babies are never breastfed, compared to just 5% in low- and middle-income countries. WHO data also suggest that 83% of babies globally begin life being breastfed, but the number comes down substantially as the child grows. Historically, wet nurses were employed to breastfeed infants when the biological mother was unable or unwilling to do so, and it was common in more affluent families. The ability to breastfeed is generally present in most women, regardless of socioeconomic status. However, poor mothers can face significant difficulties in breastfeeding.
While formula feeding (the practice of feeding a baby with manufactured infant milk in addition to breast milk) is nutritionally adequate and safe, it does not contain nutrients tailored to the baby which breastfed children would have.
Many women do feel that breastfeeding impacts their physical appearance, and this perception can influence their decision to breastfeed or continue breastfeeding. Changes do happen, and that is something to do with bearing the child rather than breastfeeding.
In many communities, talking about breastfeeding is still considered taboo. Anything related to breasts is sexualised, making discussions about breastfeeding uncomfortable or inappropriate in public or mixed-gender settings.
World Breastfeeding Week is more than just a health campaign. It is to bring people together to support mothers and highlight the importance of breastfeeding, both for babies and mothers.
Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future.
Toons: Anusha
Logs: M Sai Baba
ToonLogs
