Why "no" to artificial milk? Are there long-term benefits of breastfeeding? What working conditions would improve breastfeeding? These and other questions are answered in the ten data on breastfeeding that the WHO exposes to actively encourage breastfeeding as the best source of nutrients for infants and young children.
The WHO is one of the organizations dedicated to health that recommend exclusive breastfeeding for babies during the first six months of life and up to two years or more. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure the health and survival of children.
After the first six months, combined with complementary feeding, breastfeeding prevents malnutrition and can save the lives of nearly one million children. But the data indicate that children under six months of age exclusively fed with breast milk do not reach 40%.
Can this figure change? According to the WHO, many children would save their lives and avoid illnesses by providing adequate support to mothers and families to initiate and maintain breastfeeding.
These are just some of the ten data on breastfeeding from WHO that we see below. Here we expose the multiple benefits of breastfeeding and how help to mothers can increase breastfeeding throughout the world.
The WHO strongly recommends exclusively breastfeeding during the first six months of life. Then it must be supplemented with other foods until two years old. In addition, it must begin in the first hour of life; it should be done "on demand", that is, as often as the child wants, both day and night, and bottles and pacifiers should be avoided.
Benefits for the health of the infant. Breast milk is ideal for newborns and infants, providing all the nutrients they need for healthy development. It is also safe and contains antibodies that help protect the infant from frequent diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia, which are the two leading causes of infant mortality worldwide. Breast milk is easy to get and affordable, which helps ensure that the baby has enough food.
Breastfeeding also benefits the mother. Exclusive maternal breastfeeding is a natural (though not entirely safe) method of birth control (98% protection during the first six months after delivery). In addition, it reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer later in life, helps women to recover faster their pre-pregnancy weight and reduces obesity rates.
Long-term benefits for the child. In addition to the immediate benefits for the child, breastfeeding helps maintain good health throughout life. Adults who had breastfeeding often have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and lower rates of overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. There is also evidence that people who breast-fed have better results in breastfeeding tests. intelligence.
Why not artificial milk? Artificial milk does not contain the antibodies present in breast milk, and when it is not prepared properly it carries risks related to the use of unsafe water and non-sterile material or with the possible presence of bacteria in the milk powder. Excessive dilution in order to save may end up producing malnutrition. On the other hand, frequent intake maintains the production of breast milk and, if artificial milk is used but it is no longer available, it may be impossible to return to breastfeeding due to the decrease in maternal production.
Women infected with HIV can transmit the infection to their children during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. Antiretroviral treatment of the infected mother or of the infant exposed to HIV reduces the risk of transmission of the virus during breastfeeding. Together, antiretroviral treatment and breastfeeding can significantly improve the likelihood of infant survival without becoming infected with HIV. WHO recommends that breastfeeding women infected with HIV receive antiretrovirals and follow WHO guidelines with regard to breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
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