Key points:
- Nutrients in breast milk and their benefits for both baby and mother.
- Exclusive breastfeeding and related education.
- Steps for complementary nutrition starting at 6 months of age.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the best and only food you can offer your children from birth, as it contains essential nutrients that provide the energy needed for their growth, promotes sensory and cognitive development, and meets half or more of the baby’s nutritional needs during the second half of their first year, and up to one-third during their second year. It also contains antibodies that help prevent common illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.
In addition to immediate benefits for the newborn, breastfeeding acts as a sort of immunological shield through adolescence and adulthood. Individuals who were breastfed in infancy are less prone to overweight or obesity, are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and score higher on intelligence tests.
Breastfeeding is both a natural act and a learned behavior, which is why many women face challenges at first. Common practices—such as separating mother and child at birth, newborn nurseries, or supplementing feeding with formula—can make this stage more difficult.
For this reason, organizations like WHO and UNICEF have helped improve care for new mothers through their Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, where they provide 40-hour training courses on breastfeeding counseling in at least 152 countries.
How long is the right amount of time to continue breastfeeding?
According to the WHO, upon returning to work after childbirth, mothers need a safe, clean, and private space to continue breastfeeding their children.
Scientific evidence has shown that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way to feed infants. Afterward, they should begin receiving complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed up to 2 years of age or beyond.
The WHO and UNICEF recommend the following steps to ensure a smooth breastfeeding journey for at least the recommended period:
- Breastfeed within the first hour of life.
- Practice exclusive breastfeeding; that is, give your baby only breast milk—no other foods or drinks, not even water—for the first 6 months.
- Feed on demand, day or night.
- Avoid using bottles or pacifiers.
Subsequently, to meet children’s needs starting at six months, you should introduce solid foods in the form of purees as a complement to breast milk.
The WHO recommends:
- Do not reduce breastfeeding when introducing solid foods.
- Offer complementary foods using a spoon or cup, rather than a bottle.
- Be patient; your little one might not be ready to learn to eat solid foods right away.
At the Obstetrics Center of Centro Médico ABC, we offer specialized care. Contact us today!
Fuentes:
https://www.minsalud.gov.co/salud/publica/PI/Paginas/ImportanciaLactanciaMaterna.aspx
https://www.healthychildren.org/Spanish/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Paginas/Birth-Control-and-Breastfeeding.aspx
