World Breastfeeding Week 2021

Breastfeeding is one of the healthiest diets for newborn babies as it ensures their physical and mental growth. All the expecting mothers out there should be aware of the benefits of breastfeeding their newborns and keep themselves prepared for the same. World celebrates Breastfeeding week every year from 1st August to 7th August to spread awareness among new parents to improve their child’s health by breastfeeding their baby up to a year of its birth.

This article directly focuses on the importance and benefits of breastfeeding and why this cause is celebrated for a week.

The History of World Breastfeeding Week

This initiative was taken by WHO, UNICEF, and other organisations in August 1990 to promote, protect and support breastfeeding among people who were not aware of its importance for their children. Considering this thoughtful cause, World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) presented the concept of a globally integrated breastfeeding strategy for the promotion. Initially, it was decided to celebrate this cause for just a day which later turned into a week affair. World breastfeeding week is now celebrated in more than 100 countries to honour all the mothers who believe in breastfeeding their babies and spread awareness among the parents about the importance of breastfeeding.

Importance of Breastfeeding

With breastfeeding, children get the healthiest start in life, enabling their bodies to heal and grow within. It gives health and nutritional and emotional benefits to both children and mothers. Being the most sustainable food system, it keeps the baby well-fed and relaxed. While breastfeeding is a natural process, it doesn’t get so easy as mothers need support to get started and sustain breastfeeding in the initial days.

According to WHO, Breast milk is the source of antibodies that help babies fight against numerous viruses and bacteria. Also, it has been noticed that babies who were breastfed without formula for the first few six months of their birth haven’t developed ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and diarrhoea compared to the babies who were fed formula.

The risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease in mothers also gets minimized due to breastfeeding. Even during the covid-19, the mothers who come out positive are told to breastfeed their newborns by taking the following precautions- 

• Cover your mouth with masks during any contact with the baby while feeding.
• Keep your hands well-sanitized or wash them with alcohol-based soap or handwash.
• Sneeze or cough using a tissue carefully and dispose of it immediately and wash hands again.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that mothers have touched every hour.

>>Also Read: Maternity health insurance plans, if you are planning to experience pregnancy soon.

Babies who are breastfed are healthier than the babies who are put on formula. Doctors recommend breastfeeding the babies for at least a year after the baby is born even after solid foods are introduced, which promotes babies’ growth. The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous as breastfed babies have more leptin in their babies than formula-fed babies. It is an important hormone that regulates appetite and fat storage.

Takeaway

You can give your babies a healthy life if you are aware of breast milk properties. World Breastfeeding Week is a reminder to all those mothers who have grown their babies healthy by breastfeeding them and to the women who are expecting mothers to help them know what best they can do to give their children a healthy start to their life. Let’s all treat this cause as a shared responsibility!