As we approach World Breastfeeding Week 2010, thoughts fly through my head about both the progress that’s been made in promoting and supporting breastfeeding and about how much more there is to accomplish.
Most mothers and mothers-to-be have gotten the message that breastfeeding is beneficial for their babies. What hasn’t been communicated as well is just how “good” for babies breastfeeding really is and how long lasting an effect on health it provides.
A recent study from the Netherlands shows that at least four months of exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections for babies by 45%. Six months of exclusive breastfeeding lowered the infection rates even more by 65%. The key word here is “exclusive”. Babies who were breastfed but supplemented with formula lost much of the protective effect. Yet how often are new mothers seduced by formula company advertising and “free” samples?
Then there is Mrs. Obama’s recent speech to the NAACP on childhood obesity “…one thing we can think about, is working to make sure that our kids get a healthy start from the beginning, by promoting breastfeeding in our communities.”
As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week now in 2010, let’s all do what we can in our own communities and workplaces to encourage breastfeeding and give those babies a healthy start in life. We’ve come a long way in providing support and raising our breastfeeding rates in this country, but we still have a way to go.
