Breastfeeding is a natural process whereby mothers feed their newborn babies with the nourishing milk produced by their breasts. It has been practiced for centuries and is an essential part of the mother-infant bond.
Breastfeeding also has many benefits for both the mother and baby.
In 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the Global Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to promote and support breastfeeding.
The initiative aimed to ensure that all hospitals and health facilities followed the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and provided appropriate support and care to mothers and their newborns.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for both mothers and babies. Here are some of the key benefits:.
: For Babies
- Breast milk provides all the necessary nutrients for a baby’s growth and development.
- It contains antibodies that boost a baby’s immune system, reducing the risk of infections.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
: For Mothers
- Breastfeeding helps the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size.
- It reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Breastfeeding burns extra calories, helping mothers to lose weight gained during pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding releases hormones that promote maternal bonding and reduce stress.
The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are the core components of the BFHI. They outline the practices that hospitals and health facilities should follow to support and promote breastfeeding:.
- Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
- Train all health care staff in the skills needed to implement the policy.
- Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
- Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
- Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if separated from their infants.
- Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
- Practice “rooming-in” – allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
- Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
- Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
- Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.
Challenges and Solutions
Despite the benefits of breastfeeding and the efforts of the BFHI, there are still many challenges to promoting and supporting breastfeeding worldwide. Here are some of the key challenges and solutions:.
: Challenge
Cultural barriers and myths surrounding breastfeeding.
: Solution
Education and awareness-raising campaigns to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and dispel myths.
: Challenge
Limited access to skilled breastfeeding support.
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: Solution
Training of healthcare workers in breastfeeding support and encouraging the establishment of breastfeeding support groups.
: Challenge
No paid maternity leave or flexible work options.
: Solution
Government policies and incentives that support maternity leave and flexible work options.
: Challenge
Aggressive marketing of infant formula.
: Solution
Ban or restrict the marketing of infant formula and other breast milk substitutes.
The Importance of Breastfeeding during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of breastfeeding as a way to boost babies’ immune systems and protect them from infections.
The WHO recommends that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 continue to breastfeed while taking precautions such as wearing a mask and washing their hands.
Breastfeeding can also provide comfort and reassurance to both mothers and babies during times of stress and uncertainty. It is essential that mothers receive the support and care they need to continue breastfeeding during the pandemic.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is a global initiative that has the potential to improve the health and well-being of mothers and babies worldwide.
The BFHI and the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding provide a framework for hospitals and health facilities to promote and support breastfeeding. However, there are still many challenges to promoting and supporting breastfeeding worldwide, and solutions must be found to overcome these challenges.
