SEATTLE — Breastfeeding is a hot topic for health organizations and any parents with newborns. WHO and UNICEF recommend immediate breastfeeding within an hour of delivery. These organizations also suggest exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months and continued breastfeeding until age two. After six months, parents may introduce safe, nutritional and age-appropriate complementary foods alongside the breast milk.
Although these are common recommendations, breastfeeding in developing countries and impoverished areas is of particular importance because of little access to clean water and sanitation and high rates of disease.
EBF is ideal because breast milk alone has all the necessary vitamins and nutrients for newborns and is cheaper than purchasing formula or using other foods and liquids. Additionally, it does not require parents to have clean water, to mix the correct dilution, to obtain continuous quantities of formula or to clean utensils and bottles (with fresh water).
Breastfeeding has numerous health benefits for both the child and the mother. Immediate breastfeeding reduces the risks for neonatal mortality. Early and exclusive breastfeeding improves child survival, decreases the risk of mother to child HIV transmission, supports healthy brain development, stimulates the proper growth of the mouth and jaw, increases cognitive performance and has a correlation with better education achievement by the age of five.
Breast milk also helps digestion and contains antibodies which protect against diseases and infections such as acute respiratory infections and diarrhea. Furthermore, breastfeeding has positive social implications for children, improving behavior, stimulation, speech, sense of well-being and feelings of security.
According to research and the UNICEF, optimal breastfeeding of children from infancy to age two has “the potential to prevent over 800,000 deaths (13 percent of all deaths) in children under five in the developing world.”
For mothers, breastfeeding can reduce the risks for breast and ovarian cancers, type two diabetes, rheumatic arthritis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Moreover, because it releases the hormone oxytocin, breastfeeding reduces postpartum bleeding, helps the uterus return to its normal size faster and allows the mother to better recover from childbirth.
EBF also delays the return of menstruation and acts as a natural birth control, extending the time between pregnancies. Increased pregnancy spacing is of particular importance because it decreases the risks for the next baby to die, be born prematurely, have congenital disabilities or be born underweight. More time between pregnancies can also reduce the number of children per woman, helping to reduce the growing population.
The overall rate of breastfeeding in developing countries has continued to improve over the years; however, they remain small. In 1995, about 33 percent of new mothers breastfed. In 2010, about 39 percent of mothers breastfed. Countries and areas with significant improvements appear to benefit primarily from the reduction in suboptimal breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding promotion intervention has proven to increase EBF in developing countries significantly. Studies find that prenatal counseling is especially important at four to six weeks postpartum and that prenatal and postnatal counseling is of particular importance at six months.
UNICEF, WHO and partners continue to work to improve communication and advocacy in regards to breastfeeding in developing countries. These organizations support the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding as well as World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st to 7th) to help increase immediate, exclusive and optimal breastfeeding postpartum.
– Francesca Montalto
Photo: Flickr