Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and beneficial acts a mother can do for her child. Dramatic health benefits have been proven to pass from mother to child through breastmilk from antibodies which protect an infant at birth...to the exclusive nutrients in mother's milk which have been shown to prevent a number of childhood diseases...the benefits are incalculable. There is no other single action by which a mother can so impact the present and future health of her baby.
Yet, in today's society, breastfeeding is often thought of as unnecessary. Young mothers are mistakenly led to believe that formula does very well as a replacement for breastmilk. Nothing can duplicate the properties of breastmilk, no matter how many vitamins, minerals and supplements are added to what is basically a chemical formulation.
Breastmilk remains the one and only natural, complete and complex nutrition for human infants. It is nature's formula for ensuring the health and quality of life for infants, as well as on through childhood to adult life. Just as importantly, breastfeeding promotes a very special bond between mother and child that only a mother can provide.
Breastmilk remains the one and only natural, complete and complex nutrition for human infants. It is nature's formula for ensuring the health and quality of life for infants, as well as on through childhood to adult life. Just as importantly, breastfeeding promotes a very special bond between mother and child that only a mother can provide.
In India they are facing a grave challenge of having very high rates of child under-nutrition and a high infant and child mortality rate. One of the interventions, to help solve their high mortality rate is breast feeding; they believe that if a new born starts breastfeeding one hour after birth and exclusive breastfeeding (for 0-6 month), it will reduce the child mortality rate.
Breastfeeding is meaningful to me because I work with young mothers. I feel that breastfeeding is a good and healthy way of keeping your baby healthy. It promotes good nutrition for both mother and child with lots of natural benefits. It also promotes adequate growth and development, thus preventing stunting in children. It reduces the risk of pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer.
FAO/UNICEF and Food and Nutrition Council of Zimbabwe, Healthy Harvest, with funding from USAID and ECHO, 2004
Ministry of Women and Child Development, National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding, Government of India, 2006
Gupta A, Shrivastava D. National plan of action for promoting breastfeeding: an outline. J Indian Med :Assoc 2002 100: 498-501
Gupta A, Shrivastava D. National plan of action for promoting breastfeeding: an outline. J Indian Med :Assoc 2002 100: 498-501
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