Breastfeeding is warmth, nutrition, and love all at once. A report done by World Health Organization WHO shows that Fewer than half of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.
The physical act of breastfeeding is more than the quantity of milk that is supplied. Therefore it is important to infants because it supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions. It also protects infants against allergies, sickness, and obesity.
Inadequate breastfeeding for a baby can cause several negative results. One result is infants may have low IQ. Several studies have reported modestly lower IQ scores in formula fed children compared with breastfed children.
In addition these babies might also have low energy. Therefore they may end up sleeping 4 or more hours at a time.
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The third result is inadequate breastfeeding can cause childhood cancer. Several studies have examined associations between formula feeding and childhood leukemia based on the hypothesis that immuno reactive factors in breast milk may prevent viral infections implicated in the leukemia pathogenesis.
The fourth result is getting some babies may get type 1 diabetes. Infants who are given hydrolysated formula are at a higher risk of getting type 1 diabetes versus those who are given breast milk or cow’s milk formula.
However, despite of these risks, there has been discussions by international organizations on educating people on the importance of breast feeding.
One is World Health Organization which together with UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners support World Breastfeeding Week that is held in the first week of August every year.
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With this year’s theme focusing on breastfeeding and work through providing a strategic opportunity to advocate for essential maternity rights, that support breastfeeding maternity leave for a minimum of 18 weeks, ideally more than 6 months, and workplace accommodations after this point.
