The importance of breastfeeding your baby
Breastfeeding is healthy for moms and babies
Across the world, health organisations, governments and non-profit organisations are united in the effort to promote and support breastfeeding.
The 2018 World Breastfeeding Week runs from August 1 to 7.
This is to celebrate breastfeeding as the foundation of life for the good health of mothers and children.
The campaign, co-ordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), identifies breastfeeding as an essential strategy to prevent malnutrition in all its forms, combat inequality, crises and poverty, which are all major issues in many South African communities.
La Leche League South Africa is a voluntary organisation which provides information and support to women who want to breastfeed their babies.
Cecilia Teixeira, a breastfeeding counsellor based in Benoni, provides mothers with help on how to breastfeed within Benoni and Kempton Park.
“Mothers come to us for help at any time,” said Teixeira.
“This can be done telephonically or mothers can attend the monthly meetings.”
If someone would like to become a member of the organisation they will pay R250 a year.
For more information on the organisation, people can go onto the Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/lalecheleaguesouthafrica/ or onto the website https://www.lllsa.org/.
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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, and if possible, breastfeeding should continue until the age of two years and beyond, while complementary foods are introduced.
ADSA (Associations for Dietetics in South Africa) spokesperson and Registered Dietitian Mbali Mapholi, points out how important it is that women in South African communities, where hunger, poverty and inequality are rife; where crises such as fires, floods and social unrest are frequent realise that breastfeeding their babies can provide many vitals benefits.
Breastfeeding saves you time
• Breast-milk is always available
• Breastfeeding requires no preparation
Breastfeeding saves you money
• No need to buy infant formula
• No need to buy bottles, teats and sterilising products
• No need to use electricity
Breastfeeding boosts your baby’s health.
A breastfed baby is likely to get sick less often.
This means there are fewer clinic visits, and fewer days off absent for Mom.
• Lower risk of death
• Lower risk of diarrhoea
• Lower risk of chest infections
• Lower risk of ear infections
• Lower risk of overweight and obesity
Breastfeeding boosts mom’s health
• Lower risk of breast cancer
• Lower risk of ovarian cancer
• Lower risk of high blood pressure
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