This past week we celebrated World Breastfeeding Week, this year’s theme—“Closing the Gap: Support for All”—reminds us of the incredible benefits breastfeeding offers to both infants and mothers and the essential support needed to make breastfeeding a viable option for every family.
Throughout the week we’ve been highlighting the importance of breastfeeding to infants and you can find some of them below
- Nutrition: Breast milk is uniquely tailored to meet a baby’s nutritional needs, providing ideal proportions of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins.
- Immunity: Breast milk contains antibodies and immune factors that help protect infants from infections and diseases.
- Digestion: Breast milk is easily digestible, reducing the likelihood of constipation and digestive issues in infants.
- Development: Breastfeeding is associated with optimal brain development and cognitive function due to the presence of essential fatty acids and other nutrients.
- Allergy Prevention: Breastfeeding may help reduce the risk of allergies, asthma, and eczema in infants.
- Bonding: The close physical contact during breastfeeding promotes emotional bonding and secure attachment between mother and baby.
That’s not all, breastfeeding is also important to mothers too and the benefits are numerous. Through Breastfeeding, mothers get to benefit in the following ways
- Postpartum Recovery: Breastfeeding releases hormones that help the uterus contract, reducing postpartum bleeding and aiding in faster recovery after childbirth.
- Health Benefits: Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
- Convenience and Cost: Breast milk is always available, at the right temperature, and requires no preparation, saving time and money on formula and feeding equipment.
- Bonding: Breastfeeding promotes emotional bonding and enhances the mother’s confidence in her ability to care for her baby.
- Weight Loss: Breastfeeding burns extra calories, helping mothers lose pregnancy weight more quickly.
- Natural Birth Control: Exclusive breastfeeding can delay the return of menstrual periods, providing natural contraception (although not foolproof).
Remember this week is all about showing support to breastfeeding mothers and providing an enabling environment for breastfeeding, here’s how you can show support in your own way
- Educate and Empower: Learn about the benefits of breastfeeding and share this knowledge with your community. Empower mothers with information to make informed choices about breastfeeding.
- Support: Offer encouragement and practical support to breastfeeding mothers around you. Small gestures can make a significant difference in their breastfeeding journey.
- Advocate: Advocate for policies and initiatives that support breastfeeding mothers in workplaces, healthcare settings, and communities. Every voice matters in closing the gap and ensuring equitable access to breastfeeding support.
- Celebrate: Join us in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week through events, workshops, and activities designed to promote breastfeeding awareness and support.
We hope this week inspired you to learn more, support breastfeeding families, and advocate for policies that make a difference. The benefits of breastfeeding are clear, and our collective effort in supporting this crucial practice can create lasting positive impacts for both mothers and their babies.
