Since the history of time itself, breastfeeding has been the best and most effective way for a mother to nurture and ensure proper growth to her child. Not only does it promote good nutrition for the baby, it also provides a great way for the child and mother to bond. Although breastfeeding is a personal choice for women, mothers around the world are encouraged to exclusively breastfeed their babies as it provides a good start to the health and wellbeing of the child. That is why in recent years, exclusive breastfeeding is highly recommended during the first 6 months of the child’s life. Exclusive breastfeeding is when a woman only offers breast milk to their child from birth until the 6 month mark. She is advised not to offer any water, juice, other milk supplements or food to the child as breast milk provides all the nutrients and antibodies needed. According to the World Health Organization, (WHO), ‘Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers.’ But despite the widespread campaign of exclusive breastfeeding, we have a long way to go as advertisers of breast milk substitutes, societal barriers among other reasons, continue to affect these efforts. So, has exclusive breastfeeding really worked? Studies prove that there have been immense benefits to both mother and baby despite their social and economic background.
What worked?
Breast milk is a great source of the perfect nutritional value for the infant. It has the best balance for fat, proteins and vitamins and provides all necessary nutrients for the first 6 months of a child’s life. Exclusively nursing a child is the most cost effective way for reducing childhood diseases e.g. obesity, hypertension and gastroenteritis and child mortality. As it already contains antibodies that help fight off viruses and bacteria, breast milk reduces the chances of an infant getting sick as compared to an infant who is not breast fed. Infants, unlike grownups, cannot digest different sources of milk or foods because their digestive tracks are still underdeveloped. Breast milk therefore provides the perfect way to ensure the child is well fed while still ensuring that the child is comfortable and potential allergies e.g. from cow’s milk are waded off. Also exclusively nursing your child ensures that they also gain the right amount of weight as children who are not tend to be overweight which brings health complications to the child as they grow up. For mothers, studies show that breastfeeding helps reduce baby weight as it helps burn extra calories. It also helps the uterus to contract and go back to its normal size because the hormone oxytocin is produced when one breastfeeds. Women who choose to exclusively breast feed their babies tend to go through amenorrhea, where their menstrual cycle is absent for a certain period. The more the mother breastfeeds, the more she keeps her period at bay. This is beneficial as she is able to reserve all he iron production for her body and her baby and not lose it during her cycle. Also, lactation amenorrhea method is a contraceptive method that has also proven to be effective in the first 6 months after birth. Mothers also save money, time and energy when they practice exclusive breastfeeding as it is clean and readily available. A mother who chooses to exclusively nurse their child cuts costs such as formula and nursing bottles and saves time in measuring, washing and sterilizing.
What didn’t?
Although exclusive breastfeeding has shown immense acceptance around the world, it has also been met with many challenges and setbacks. To begin with, breastfeeding is a personal choice for the woman. While many mothers choose to nurse their infants, other women don’t due to their own personal reasons. Because of this, the child lacks the necessary nutrition to help them jumpstart their lives. While formula-making companies claim to provide the same nutrition as breast milk, studies have shown that this is not the case. Societal barriers like employment and length of maternity leave also hinder the mother’s ability to exclusively breastfeed their child. Lack of encouragement and support from family, society and even health providers also play a part where the woman is unable to nurse their child for the specified amount of time. Sometimes, lack of proper knowledge on nursing also plays a role. Exclusive breastfeeding has proven to be difficult for women who cannot produce enough milk to satisfy their growing babies. Others are unable to breastfeed due to sore or cracking nipples which can be off putting to the mother. Due to this, they often have to supplement with other sources of milk like formula or animals milk. To nurse exclusively has also been challenging to women as it is time consuming. A woman has to nurse or express milk enough to satisfy the child and ensure that they are full. As the child grows, the more milk they consume. This means that the mother has to breastfeed or express milk longer which is time consuming. When the mother becomes sick and has to take medication that transmits through the milk, e.g. antidepressants, or is using recreational drugs, she is advised to stop breastfeeding as the medication can potentially harm the baby. This in turn interrupts the child’s chances of getting wholesome nutrition through the breast milk. There are also instances where the mother is absent due to a threatening illness or death. In such situations, as the mother is not readily available to provide the nutrition her child’s needs, other options have to be explored. All in all, and despite the setbacks, exclusive breastfeeding is the most effective way to ensure a wholesome and healthy start for an infant. It also creates a beautiful and amazing bonding experience for the mother and child and is highly advocated for the general well-being of both.
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