UNICEF estimates that exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age can prevent the deaths of 1.3 million children under five every year.
What is breastfeeding?
Babies need the right foods at the right time to grow and develop to their fullest potential. The most important window for good nutrition is the brief 1,000-day period from the start of pregnancy to the child’s second birthday. Breast milk is the best food for children’s health and development during this critical period. It provides all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antibodies that children need to grow and thrive.
What are the benefits for the baby?
- From the baby’s first hour of life until the age of two or beyond, breastfeeding protects against illness.
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding within the first hour of life significantly reduce the likelihood of newborn death.
- Breastfeeding is essential for early childhood development.
- It supports brain development, raising IQ scores, which leads to better performance in school.
- It lowers the risk of conditions such as asthma, obesity, diabetes, and heart problems throughout life.
- Breastfeeding is explicitly recognized by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child as a key component and one of the highest standards of children’s health.
- It has the potential to prevent 12% of deaths among children under five.
- Children who are exclusively breastfed are less likely to develop diarrhea and pneumonia and are 14 times more likely to survive than children who are not breastfed.
What are the benefits for the mother?
- It is good for mothers’ health, reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
- It helps mothers recover after giving birth.
- Women who breastfeed their children have a lower risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
- It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
After the first six months of life, UNICEF recommends that children be given a varied, frequent diet of nutrient-rich, hygienically prepared complementary foods in addition to breast milk, providing enough energy, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to meet children’s growing needs.
At ABC Medical Center’s Obstetrics Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
