EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND ITS BENEFITS -SUMMARY
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) refers to the practice of giving an infant breast milk ingested
directly from the mother’s breast, expressed breast milk fed through a feeding bottle or cup and
spoon or from a wet nurse for the first six months of life with the exception of medicines,
vitamins and mineral syrups and oral rehydration therapy solutions (WHO/UNICEF,1990).The
concept was adopted in 1990 at a meeting in Italy Innocenti Centre by policy makers from 30
countries where targets for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding were set.
Based on empirical and subjective evidence (i.e. social psychological and cultural attributes) on
the beneficial aspects of breastfeeding to the infant and the mother, the World Health
Organization (WHO) recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six
months of life as breast milk has nutritional, immunological and cognitive benefits to the baby.
Nutritional benefits include; a balance of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are important for
nerve function, brain health and blood clotting, lipids inform of essential fatty acids, saturated
fats and cholesterol, whey protein, minerals that are protein bound for easier absorption and
utilization by the body; immunological benefits which are the most important is the ability of
human milk to protect against infections and cognitive benefits associated with breast milk
assessed by IQ. (AAP, 2005; WHO, 2003). In addition, EBF has benefits to the mother, society
and the environment. Benefits to the mother include improved recovery following delivery;
decreased blood loss post-partum; delayed return to fertility and decreased risk of breast and
ovarian cancers. Further, breastfeeding helps create a strong bond between mother and child
which helps reduce cases of abandoned babies (Labbok, 2001). Benefits to the society include;
lower health care costs, healthier families, and a smarter workforce (WHO, 2017). Lastly, EBF
decreases environmental burden for disposal of formula cans and bottles and decreased energy
demands for production and transport of artificial feeding products (WHO, 2018). As noted by
UNICEF’s Executive Director, Anthony Lake in the 2017 commentary “Breastfeeding is not a
one-woman job” breastfeeding is one of the most effective and cost-effective investments nations
can make in the health of their youngest members and the future health of their economies and
societies.
REFERENCES
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) refers to the practice of giving an infant breast milk ingested
directly from the mother’s breast, expressed breast milk fed through a feeding bottle or cup and
spoon or from a wet nurse for the first six months of life with the exception of medicines,
vitamins and mineral syrups and oral rehydration therapy solutions (WHO/UNICEF,1990).The
concept was adopted in 1990 at a meeting in Italy Innocenti Centre by policy makers from 30
countries where targets for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding were set.
Based on empirical and subjective evidence (i.e. social psychological and cultural attributes) on
the beneficial aspects of breastfeeding to the infant and the mother, the World Health
Organization (WHO) recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six
months of life as breast milk has nutritional, immunological and cognitive benefits to the baby.
Nutritional benefits include; a balance of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are important for
nerve function, brain health and blood clotting, lipids inform of essential fatty acids, saturated
fats and cholesterol, whey protein, minerals that are protein bound for easier absorption and
utilization by the body; immunological benefits which are the most important is the ability of
human milk to protect against infections and cognitive benefits associated with breast milk
assessed by IQ. (AAP, 2005; WHO, 2003). In addition, EBF has benefits to the mother, society
and the environment. Benefits to the mother include improved recovery following delivery;
decreased blood loss post-partum; delayed return to fertility and decreased risk of breast and
ovarian cancers. Further, breastfeeding helps create a strong bond between mother and child
which helps reduce cases of abandoned babies (Labbok, 2001). Benefits to the society include;
lower health care costs, healthier families, and a smarter workforce (WHO, 2017). Lastly, EBF
decreases environmental burden for disposal of formula cans and bottles and decreased energy
demands for production and transport of artificial feeding products (WHO, 2018). As noted by
UNICEF’s Executive Director, Anthony Lake in the 2017 commentary “Breastfeeding is not a
one-woman job” breastfeeding is one of the most effective and cost-effective investments nations
can make in the health of their youngest members and the future health of their economies and
societies.
REFERENCES
