Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding

The World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated from August 1-7 every year. Exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to the age of six months means that breastfeeding not just a drop of rain falling down in summer season. Breastmilk contains adequate water which can meet infant’s body requirements. Avoidance of any pre-lacteal feeding, strongly discourages pre-lacteal feeding like plain water, glucose, honey and formula milk.

Mother’s milk is unquestionably the best food for the baby. Supplementary water is unnecessary for purely breast-fed infants even during hot weather. Breastmilk has enough water in it, to meet the water requirements of the baby. There is clear evidence that infants do not require any food (not even a drop of water) other than breast milk up to six months of age as the breastmilk contains in correct proportions of most of the nutrients necessary for the both physical and mental growth and development of baby. 

Proper growth

Numerous research works have given strong evidence that breastmilk contains all the essential nutrients that can meet all the requirements for proper growth and development of infants. Breastfed babies get all the essential nutrients that help them in proper body growth and development as body growth is rapid till two years of birth and about 80 per cent of brain development gets completed during this period. The nutrients found in breastmilk help in proper mental and physical development of the baby by eliminating the risk of all forms of malnutrition like underweight, overweight and micronutrient deficient malnutrition. The constituents of breastmilk also provide protection against infectious diseases by boosting the immune system. Prevention against infectious diseases and infections also supports proper physical and mental growth of a growing baby. 

Breastfeeding is very beneficial for both the baby and the mother. Thus, it benefits the family and the nation as a whole. ‘Breastfeeding is the best feeding’ as breastmilk is available at all times. It is properly warm and no time is needed to prepare it. It is always fresh and is free from contamination. The lactalbumin content is high and casein content is low in breast milk. Casein:lactalbumin ratio stands at 1:1.5. This factor makes it more digestible than cow’s milk which has more casein than lactalbumin. Breastmilk contains more essential unsaturated fatty acids (up to 4 per cent of the total calories supplied from the breast milk are from unsaturated fatty acids).

Hypocalcaemia tetany is less common in breastfed babies and more common in babies fed on cow’s milk. This is due to the high calcium/phosphorus ratio in the breastmilk. Breastfed babies, particularly those who are fed colostrum, receives large amount of antibodies from their mothers. These antibodies (immunoglobulins) protect the babies from several infections/infectious diseases. Cellular anti-infective substances like lymphocytes and macrophages, and enzymes like lysozymes are present in high concentration in the colostrum. ‘Bifidus factor’of breastmilk stops the pathogenic organisms’ growth in the gut of infants. Lactoferrin content in breast milk inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli, a common pathogenic organism which can cause gastroenteritis in infants. 

These anti-infective properties, freshness and contamination free state of the breast-milk are the reasons why breast fed babies suffer less from infectious disease and the death rate among them is low. Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus are less common in adults who were breastfed when they were infants. This shows breast feeding can contribute in the elimination of the risk factors of overweight and obesity that are the roots of almost all lifestyle diseases. Besides these health benefits, there are also emotional benefits of breastfeeding as it leads to closer bond between the mother and the infant. It provides a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for the mother, and a sense of security for the infant. 

Brestfeeding has been found to have some contraceptive effect. So, it acts as a natural contraceptive measures and it helps the natural spacing of children. Breast cancer is less common in mothers who breastfeed their babies. It costs money to buy other powdered formula milk, firewood, other fuels. The remaining amount of money can be used to buy other things that are needed in the family. There is no cost of medicine that children get sick while feeding other milk. Breastfeeding also helps save time because mother's milk is always ready and available at the right time. Mothers can use that spare time for other productive work which helps in making additional earnings.

Healthy children

There is no need to import other artificial formula powder milk which saves national income and can be spent on other constructive activities. Healthy children become healthy citizens and contribute to the development of the country.  Breastfeeding decreases in childhood diseases will reduce the national expenditure on their treatment. Besides, it reduces child mortality. The aforementioned advantages show breastfeeding has a wide range of benefits. It also helps Nepal to attain the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and makes the nation known to the outside world. 

The policy for promotion of breastfeeding in Nepal was formulated in 2008. It is necessary to implement it effectively to protect breastfeeding from commercial promotional practices of manufacturing of breastmilk substitutes. The authorities must enforce the Breast Milk Substitute Marketing Control Act so as to ensure that every infant is breastfed. What is equally essential is to ensuring a breastfeeding-friendly workplace in order to address all concerns.

(A nutritionist, the author is associated with the College of Applied Food and Dairy Technology.)