Healthier Babies, Happy Babies
Ever wondered why nurses and physicians constantly hammer on exclusive breastfeeding for six months?
Breastmilk is specially customised to fulfill the health needs of a developing baby. This makes breastfeeding the clinical gold standard for infant feeding and nutrition. According to the World Health Organization, breastmilk is the best nourishment for babies. It is safe, hygienic, and includes antibodies that aid in the prevention of many common pediatric ailments. Breastmilk supplies all of the energy and nutrients that a newborn requires during the first months of life, and it continues to give up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs throughout the second half of the first year and up to one-third of a child’s nutritional needs during the second year of life.
To ensure optimal growth, development, and health, the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. One of the best strategies to ensure a child’s health and survival is to breastfeed them. In contrast to WHO recommendations, less than half of babies under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed.
For a healthier happy baby, it is essential to breastfeed the baby with breastmilk exclusively for six months. The advantages of doing that are numerous and benefit both the mother and the baby. Breastfed children outperform non-breastfed children on intelligence assessments and are less likely to be overweight or obese. They are also less likely to develop diabetes later in life. Breastfeeding mothers are also less likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer amongst other ailments. It fosters an emotional relationship between a mother and her child. Breastfeeding helps to create stronger emotional bonds between the mother and the baby through physical intimacy, skin-to-skin contact, and eye contact.
A study about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding indicates that short-term and long-term benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for children have been identified, including healthier eating habits, shorter hospital stays, favorable weight gain, lower BMI, lower adiposity, lower total cholesterol values, better cognitive and behavioral development, and metabolic level stability in children with metabolic disorders.
Do you want your babies to be innovative and stronger? Let’s not cease to breastfeed and do it in the right way. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months then other foods added for up to 2 years.
Relevant sources for new and expectant mothers
Inasmuch as this is the recommendation, there is also the reality of challenges faced by some mothers with breastmilk production. A few relevant links have been shared based on articles written by Joan Naadu Hazel, a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist.
