World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. AHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.
Introduction:
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in more than 170 countries around the world. It is an international occasion to protect, promote and support breastfeeding anywhere and anytime.
Key Facts:
- Your body prepares itself for breastfeeding during pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract back to its pre-pregnancy size more quickly.
- Breastfeeding may help you to lose weight after child birth.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in moms.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ear infections, stomach problems and diarrhoea in infants.
- Babies who are not breastfed have a higher risk of some chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and childhood obesity.
- Breastfeeding allows mother to introduce different foods in her breast milk for 4-6 months old infant who will accept different flavors later in life.
- Formula milk does not provide the same protection against diseases, nor does it offer any health benefits for mothers.
- Breastfeeding can save families formula-related expenses.
Objectives of the World Breastfeeding Week:
- Inform people about the links between good nutrition, food security, poverty reduction and breastfeeding.
- Anchor breastfeeding as the foundation of life.
- Engage with individuals and organizations for greater impact.
- Galvanize action to advance breastfeeding as a part of good nutrition, food security and poverty reduction.
Official Date:
Globally: August 1st-7th,
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