Breastfeeding best for babies
Celebrating National Breastfeeding Week is about working together for the common good.
Santie Steyn, Netcare N17 Hospital maternity ward unit manager, says breastfeeding is promoted worldwide by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), the World Health Organisation and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
The goal is to encourage mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding of their babies for the first six months in order to get incredible health benefits.
Although she says they don’t force mothers to breastfeed, they do encourage them by explaining its importance.
“Breastfeeding provides all the vital nutrients and enables the mother to assist the healthy growth and development of her child.
“The nutrition guards babies against serious health problems and diseases including neonatal jaundice, pneumonia, cholera and many more,” says Steyn.
Breast milk contains colostrum, which supplies antibodies from the mother.
Steyn says the concentrations of leukocytes help destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses and breast milk also contains Vitamin K.
Excellent levels of Vitamin K protect babies against haemorrhagic disease.
According to Steyn there is far less risk of sudden infant death syndrome during breastfeeding.
“Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is of great importance as the milk is perfectly balanced, easily digestible and adapts to the baby’s needs at any specific time,” she says.
Prolonged breastfeeding also protects mothers against breast and ovarian cancer.
“Considering breastfeeding will have huge economic benefits, because of the cost of milk and healthcare,” says Steyn.
