Breastfeeding Benefits

By Anita KumarSave A Mother

Breastfeeding

Breast milk alone is the ideal nourishment for infants for first six months of life

Breastfeeding is one the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival

Benefits for baby…

It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses - such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

Benefits for baby…

Improves vaccine effectiveness

Breastfeeding is considered…

the 4th Trimester in Brain growth and development…

there are specific proteins in human milk that produce brain development.

…less hospitalized

Breastfed babies are hospitalized 10 times less thanformula fed infants in the first year of life

Prevents neonatal deaths

16% of neonatal deaths could be prevented by increasing the proportion of infants that receives breast milk within24hrs of birth

Prevents Juvenile Diabetes

34 % less likely to develop juvenile, insulin-dependent

diabetes than children who are fed formula.

Breastfeeding benefits for mom

Reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in life

Less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life

Breastfeeding benefits for mom

Breastfeeding is a form of birth control found to be 98percent Effective

Helps a mother to lose pregnancy weight

Breastfed Children & Adults are…

3.2 % smarter than those who are not

often have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and type-2 diabetes.

Breastfed Children & Adults are…

have fewer dental cavitiesthroughout their lives

lower rates of overweight and obesity.

Breastfeeding reduces…

global pollution-decreases use ofresources and energy required to produce and dispose materials created for artificial baby milk

medical expenses and insurance claims for children because breastfed children are less ill

Percentage of infants 0–5 months old exclusively breastfed (2000–2007)

Sources by www.Childinfo.org

Breastfeeding around the world

19 countries throughout the developing world increased exclusive breastfeeding rates by 20 percentage or more

Cambodia, Peru, and Sir Lanka have the highest percentage of exclusivelybreast feeding mothers at or under 6 months of age

UNICEF global databases 2010, from MICS, DHS and other national surveys.

Latest trend in breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased in most regions

Above is the trends in the percentage of infants under the age of six months who were exclusively breastfed, around 1995 and around 2008

www.childinfo.org

Globally less than 40% of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.

Breastfeeding support…

• In 1991 UNICEF and WHO launched the baby friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) as a way to encourage hospital worldwide to adopt the steps to successful breastfeeding.

• There are now more than 20,000 baby-friendly facilities in 152 countries thanks to WHO-UNICEF initiative.

• Health facilities that support breastfeeding- by making trained breastfeeding counselors are available to new mothers-encourage higher rates of the practice.

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