Mother – Child : The most important relationship is been marked this week i.e. from Aug’ 01 – Aug’07 as “World Breast Feeding Week”. According to WHO Currently fewer than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed worldwide. World Breastfeeding Week which is being observed from 1-7 August in over 170 countries aims to increase this number. The week is an important means of communicating the importance of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding so that infants receive appropriate nutrition.Breast milk is the most healthiest and nutritious food given to baby. Its exclusively recommended for first 6 months of the infant. It may continue upto 2yrs with other food supplements. In this occasion Dr Navneet Ranjan,Public Health Specialist address the community and shared the advantage of breast feeding.
Advantages of breast feeding
1. It Helps the infant fight infection and diseases like ear infections, meningitis, diarrhea and respiratory infections. It is a boon for the premature baby. It acts as a protective shield against allergies, asthma, and obesity.
2. It Is easily assimilated by the infants and child’s body due to the perfect combination of protein , lactose and fat.
3. Nutritional profile of breast milk in terms of calories, vitamins, and minerals is the BEST for the infant as it has the perfect proportion of them all. The same is not true for commercial mixtures as the complex bio-molecules present in breast milk cannot be copied in the lab and put in the mixture.
4. Breastfed infants are less prone to childhood obesity than others. Additionally, breast-fed infants have a higher IQ than those that are not. Talking in terms of the mother, the act of breastfeeding is especially beneficial as it helps to burn calories, which results in weight reduction. It is also known to help in the process of shrinking the uterus. Additionally, studies have indicated that nursing mothers who breastfed have lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer, decreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.
5. The other aspect is psychological security. Breast-fed infants are closer to their mothers and feel secure with them more than others. There is a special feeling of bonding between them.