World breastfeeding week comes around every year, from the 1st to 7th of August, while the entire month is dedicated to awareness. Breastfeeding is the most traditional and still remains the best feeding method for babies.
It’s no news that all health regulatory bodies insist on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. And the World Health Organization (WHO), advises continuous breastfeeding for a period of 24months into the child’s life. But what exactly are the factors that inform these recommendations?
Infant mortality in Nigeria is ranked as the 11th highest in the world by the World Health Organization. According to nutritionist, Mrs. Ada Ezeogbu, speaking at Media-Dialogue-for-Breastfeeding-and-Global-Breastfeeding Collective, over 100,000 children are lost annually due to poor breastfeeding practices.
She believes that the two biggest child killer diseases, pneumonia and diarrhea are easily avoided or minimized in exclusively breast-fed children.
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Advantages of Exclusive 6-month Breast feeding
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Stronger immunity
Boost your baby’s ability to fight diseases. Newborns and infants are at the most precarious stage of their growth. It is necessary they get maximum nutrition to help them build up immunity against certain disorders. This is most especially true as they shouldn’t be taken antibiotics much at this age.
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Infection free
Breast milk protects against infections. Unlike bottle-feeding, breast milk doesn’t require long and thorough washing and sterilization processes. If the bottles are not well kept, washed or sterilized, they become breeding ground for bacteria and a whole new world of germs. This makes breastmilk a stress-free choice which simply requires good body hygiene for the mother.
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Intelligence Quotient
Build up the smarts A lot of people allude to the fact that exclusively breastfed children tend to be quite smart. With relations to non-exclusively fed infants, there might not be enough evidence to support or deny this belief.
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Diarrhea
Toddler suffering from watery stools Poor hygiene practices by Nigerian mothers when it comes to handling baby feces can easily result in diarrhea. A mother who believes the child’s poop is harmless, wouldn’t wash her hands well or at all before dealing with eating utensils to feed same baby.
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Economy
Breastfeeding is pocket friendly According to recent international news, Nigeria now outranks all others as the poorest country in the world. Cost of good quality infant formula runs into tens of thousands per pack, which may not last more than a week. Exclusive breastfeeding saves the parents, the economy and nation as a whole from spending millions on formula.
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Obesity
Childhood obesity can continue into adulthood Obesity in kids and adults are both associated with complementary feeding before the 6 month mark. Children who rely on breast-milk only, for the earlier part of their lives, grow into healthy weights.
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Cancer
NO to breast cancer Breastfeeding has been touted as reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers in later years. It also reduces risk of osteoporosis and enables production of oxytocin which makes the uterus shrink to normal size.
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Bond
The mother-child bond In all the hustle and bustle of a new birth, especially in traditional African settings, the breastfeeding time allows the mother bond with her child. This is an invaluable aspect of breast feeding.
The advantages of exclusive breastfeeding sure do matter a whole lot. However, this in no way belittles the challenges that come with exclusive breastfeeding. No matter whether you have been exclusively breastfeeding or not, it is imperative to breast feed as much as possible. The nutrients contained in breastmilk are always of benefit to a growing child.
Important Breastfeeding Practises
- Breastfeed within the first one hour of birth to activate the lactating process and strengthen the immune system of the child. Colostrum, the yellowish milk that comes out first is an essential first meal for the newborn.
- Breastfeed on demand. This means you make the breast available every time a child needs it.
- Limit or totally do away with using bottles and pacifiers.
- Do not give water either, it could lead to malnutrition in exclusively breastfed babies.
- Stay healthy. In order to lactate well enough and be strong enough to breastfeed, you need to take good care of your health and eat well.
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A very informative article! Exclusive breastfeeding is truly essential for a baby’s health and immunity. Thank you for sharing such useful information, Dr. Oluwapelumi Ala.
The article raises an important point about the practical side of breastfeeding, especially in places where access to clean water, formula and healthcare can be limited. I also found the section on the first milk particularly interesting, since colostrum is sometimes misunderstood by new mothers. At the same time, breastfeeding can be physically and emotionally difficult, so advice should probably acknowledge that not every mother has the same circumstances. Support from healthcare workers and family can make a big difference when feeding plans don’t go exactly as expected.
Highlighting World Breastfeeding Week is an important reminder of breastfeeding’s lasting benefits, supporting healthy infant feeding while encouraging greater awareness and understanding among families and communities.
This article explains the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in a simple and easy-to-understand way , i specially liked the points about the baby’s immunity, the importance of colostrum, and feeding on demand,helpful reminder for new parents and families about how important proper support and information can be during the early months!
I found this post very enlightening, especially the way it explains the health advantages of exclusive breastfeeding for infants. The discussion about immunity, protection from infections, and the importance of early nutrition provides valuable knowledge for parents and caregivers.
This article gives useful information about exclusive breastfeeding, especially for babies during their first six months. I liked how it explains the benefits, such as stronger immunity, fewer illnesses, healthy growth, saving money, and building a close bond between mother and baby. The simple tips are also helpful for new mothers.
It explains the benefits of breastfeeding in a very simple and easy-to-understand way. The points regarding immunity and the bond between mother and child are particularly useful. This article provides essential information on nutrition, immunity, hygiene, and the emotional connection between mother and child.
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I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
The health benefits are important, but practical support also matters a lot, like proper break times, private spaces and help when milk supply becomes a problem. Telling mothers what is recommended is one thing, making it realistically possible is another. I would have liked to see more about these everyday challenges, because they can make a big difference.
I found the focus on exclusive breastfeeding especially informative, particularly the discussion around nutrition, immunity, and protection from common infections. Clear health education like this can help new parents understand why early feeding practices are so important for a baby’s development.
I appreciated that it not only highlights the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding but also addresses the practical challenges mothers might face. Sections covering immunity, protection against infections, nutrition, and the mother-child bond make the topic easy to understand and practically useful.
One part that deserves more attention is how practical breastfeeding can become once families understand what is normal in the first weeks. Feeding on demand, dealing with frequent feeds and finding a comfortable routine can be harder than the general advice makes it sound. Support from healthcare workers and family probably matters just as much as knowing the benefits.
I appreciate how this highlights the practical reasons behind exclusive breastfeeding during a baby’s first six months. The points about immunity and protection from infections are especially important, and the simple explanations make the health benefits easy for readers to understand.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.