What's
Good Healthier Babies Before a baby is born, the placenta acts as an interface with the outside world, protecting the unborn baby by filtering many of the germs and toxins to which the mother is exposed. After birth, the mothers Breastmilk continues to protect against many of the viruses, bacteria and parasites to which the baby is now exposed. Several substances in Breastmilk not only prevent disease, some stimulate and strengthen the development of the baby's immature immune system. This results in better health, even for years after Breastfeeding has ended. Based on scientific evidence, the World Health Assembly and UNICEF recommend that babies are fed exclusively on Breastmilk until they are about six months old. Breastfeeding: Lower Health Care Costs Any illness takes an emotional toll on families; sickness in a newborn baby or a working mother causes even more worry. Health care costs are constantly increasing. They represent a strain on the family budget and on the national budget for health care.
A studies all over the world show that each baby who is breastfed gets fewer common infections. Breastfeeding reduces the frequency of infections of the middle ear (otitis media). In the USA even, infants from birth to 12 months who were exclusively breastfed for about four months had only half the number of ear infections of infants who were not breastfed. Diarrhoeal diseases: The antibodies in a mothers Breastmilk protect her baby from the germs which cause diarrhoea. In poor communities, diarrhoea caused by bottle-feeding is responsible for acute sickness. The cycle of illness, dehydration and malnutrition weakens the child, often fatally. Babies who are not breastfed are 14.2 times more likely to die from diarrhoea than breastfed babies. Although diarrhoea is rarely fatal in industrialized nations, the consequences of repeated bouts of illness are severe and the costs of treating diarrhoea are high.
Studies have shown that Breastfeeding reduces of attacks of asthma in children. Breastfeeding: Healthy Mothers Breastfeeding is an integral part of the reproductive cycle: exclusive Breastfeeding, followed by continued Breastfeeding with the addition of appropriate complementary foods, completes this cycle before the next pregnancy occurs. Studies have shown that Breastfeeding spaces births, helping to prevent another pregnancy too soon for the many women for whom contraception is unavailable, unaffordable or unacceptable. As long as a mother breastfeeds fully or nearly fully, she is 98% protected against further pregnancy for the first six months and 96% for up to 12 months, as long as her periods (her menses) have not returned. Breastfeeding increases the level of oxytocin, resulting in less blood loss after delivery. Breastfeeding also reduces the frequency and severity of anaemia, because Breastfeeding mothers find that their monthly periods return later compared to mothers who bottle-feed. When any cycle is interrupted, there are repercussions on health, often long-term. Breastfeeding for at least three months can reduce the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer by one half. Breastfeeding for at least two months per child reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 25%. The risk of hip fracture in women over 65 is reduced by half for women who have breastfed. For women who have breastfeed each of their children for nine months, the risk is reduced to one quarters. Breastfeeding: Advantages to Employers and Society Sick infants and children often oblige the mother or father to stay away from work to care for their children. Depending on national legislation, parents take holiday leave or call in sick themselves. Such absenteeism is costly to employers – and to national budgets for health care. A 1995 study in the USA showed that breastfed babies had statistically fewer episodes of illness than formula-fed infants and that mothers of breastfed babies had fewer absences: 25% of all one-day maternal absences were by mothers Breastfeeding compared to 75% for the formula-fed groups. Benefits to the Society Exclusive Breastfeeding has a positive impact on reducing overall morbidity and mortality in infants and children under five years of age. Breastfeeding is more economical than animal or formula milk. The average cost of feeding a 6-month-old infant for one month on infant formula is estimated to be about Rs. 1100 per month.
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