Every year, from August 1 – 7, the world observes World Breastfeeding Week promote breastfeeding and enhance infant health. Infants not being breastfed are associated with an increased incidence of Pneumonia, Gastroenteritis, Leukemia, and sudden infant death Syndrome. Infant feeding is an important modifiable risk factor for disease for mothers and infants. Therefore, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends six months of breastfeeding for all infants, and the WHO recommends two years for infants. Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their children for at least one year.
The USA survey shows that nearly 30% of mothers never Begin Breastfeeding and 5% stop breastfeeding within the first week. 5% of mothers are unable to produce enough milk to nourish their babies. But Why a lot of Mothers don’t prefer to breastfeed?
According to the survey, there can be multiple reasons that include
Stigma, Fear, Body image issues, An ineffective latch, premenopausal breast cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, Ovarian Cancer, Use of Certain Medications, and Lack of Confidence.
Public health campaigns are very important to aware mothers of the benefits of breastfeeding on the health of infants. Formula-feed infants have higher risks of infectious morbidity in the first year of life than Breastfeeding infants. Cohort Studies analysis shows an increased risk of Type 1 Diabetes, Gastroenteritis, Necrotizing enterocolitis, Infant mortality, Sudden infant death Syndrome, and neurodevelopment disorders in Formula-fed infants.
Early Feeding Plays a very Crucial role in the Development and maturation of the immune system of an Infant. The differences in the immune system may result in a high incidence of allergic diseases; Formula-feed infants have high PH stool that causes colonization of Clostridium deficit and E.Coli bacteria. Several Studied have reported Diabetes type 1 in infants Less than three months of breastfeeding.
No Breastfeeding Not only effecting the infants but also the mothers. Observational studies show changes in Health behaviors. In case-control studies, never Breastfeeding is associated higher risk of Ovarian and Breast Cancer in Mothers. Epidemic data suggest that Women who do not breastfeed have a Higher Risk of Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndromes, and Cardiovascular diseases.
World Breastfeeding Week ( 1-7 August) aims to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to the health and welfare of babies and benefits to maternal health. WHO and UNICEF call on governments to protect and promote women’s access to skilled breastfeeding counseling, a critical component of breastfeeding support. Breastfeeding counseling can help mothers to build confidence while respecting their individual circumstances and choices. Counseling can empower women to overcome challenges and prevent feeding and care practices that may interfere with optimal breastfeeding, such as providing unnecessary liquids, foods, and breastmilk substitutes to infants and young children.