The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth — and breast-feeding in combination with solid foods until at least age 1. After that, breast-feeding is recommended as long as you and your child wish to continue.
The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are:
- Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
- Train all health care staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.
- Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
Why we need a Black Breastfeeding WeekThe founders of Black Breastfeeding Week cite concerns like the high Black infant mortality rate, higher rates of diet-related disease, and lack of access to healthful foods and resources in Black communities as to why Black Breastfeeding Week is necessary.
The take home message is that parent-offspring conflict and signaling theory suggest that infant crying may at times be honest and may at times be a manipulation, but that unlike bottle-fed infants that can be frequently fed to satiety, breast-fed infants are more likely to cry because they have a more dynamic
Advantages of breastfeeding for the baby
- Superior nutrition.
- There is an increased resistance to infections, and therefore fewer incidents of illness and hospitalisation.
- Decreased risk of allergies and lactose intolerance.
- Breast milk is sterile.
- Baby experiences less nappy rash and thrush.
Breast-Fed Kids May Be Less Hyper, But Not Necessarily Smarter, Study Finds : The Salt Prior research points to an association between breast-feeding and higher intelligence, but a new study finds no causal link. The study does find that breast-fed kids are less hyperactive at age 3.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF have recommended for a decade that mothers breastfeed for at least two years. But most US women who nurse stop before their baby is six months old – and many never start at all.
"That's in no way damaging to the child." The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing up to one year and as long as mutually desired by the mother and the child. Studies even have shown extended nursing has great health benefits for the child.
Breastfeeding provides health benefits for mothers beyond emotional satisfaction. Mothers who breastfeed recover from childbirth more quickly and easily. The hormone oxytocin, released during breastfeeding, acts to return the uterus to its regular size more quickly and can reduce postpartum bleeding.
How to increase breast milk production
- Breastfeed more often. Breastfeed often and let your baby decide when to stop feeding.
- Pump between feedings. Pumping between feedings can also help you increase milk production.
- Breastfeed from both sides.
- Lactation cookies.
- Other foods, herbs, and supplements.
WHO and UNICEF recommend:
- early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth;
- exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life; and.
- introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at 6 months together with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.
Younger mothers aged 20 to 29 years are less likely to ever breastfeed (82.4%) than mothers aged 30 years or older (85.2%).
How Long Should I Breastfeed My Baby? That's a personal choice. Experts recommend that babies be breastfed exclusively (without formula, water, juice, non–breast milk, or food) for the first 6 months. Then, breastfeeding can continue until 12 months (and beyond) if it's working for you and your baby.
Breast milk helps keep your baby healthy.It supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions. It protects against allergies, sickness, and obesity. It protects against diseases, like diabetes and cancer. It protects against infections, like ear infections.
"Exclusive breastfeeding" is defined as no other food or drink, not even water, except breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) for 6 months of life, but allows the infant to receive ORS, drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals and medicines).
This year's World Breastfeeding Week slogan is “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”. The #WBW2019 slogan was chosen to be inclusive of all types of parents in today's world. Focusing on supporting both parents to be empowered is vital in order to realise their breastfeeding goals.
Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman's breast. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding begin within the first hour of a baby's life and continue as often and as much as the baby wants.
Prolactin. Prolactin is necessary for the secretion of milk by the cells of the alveoli. The level of prolactin in the blood increases markedly during pregnancy, and stimulates the growth and development of the mammary tissue, in preparation for the production of milk (19).
