World Breastfeeding Week is a week-long event that aims to promote breastfeeding around the world. Events take place in different locations, and there are a variety of activities and events that take place during World Breastfeeding Week. Some of these events include breastfeeding support rallies, breastfeeding education sessions, and breastfeeding exhibitions. World Breastfeeding Week is an important event that should not be missed if you’re interested in breastfeeding and want to help promote it around the world.
HISTORY OF WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK
One of the biggest cooperative initiatives by international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF is World Breastfeeding Week. It was put up by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) with the intention of promoting breastfeeding’s advantages. Since its inception in 1992, World Breastfeeding Week has featured annual themes like healthcare and women. In 2016, the week started pushing various tactics to support breastfeeding after aligning its aim with the Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.G.s). All communication channels educate the public about the problem and the fascinating background of breastfeeding, which many people are unaware of, throughout the workweek.
Did you know that in ancient Greece, a Greek goddess’ milk was believed to possess extraordinary abilities like immortality? For instance, in Greek mythology, Hera’s breast milk created the Milky Way and gave Hercules invincibility. But as time went on, nursing became far less common, and mothers started switching to animal milk. Cow or goat milk was frequently utilized in 15th-century Europe but was viewed as deficient since it had an impact on the health of the child. Flour or cereal blended with the broth was first presented as a breastmilk substitute later in the 18th century. Since many women were unable to naturally make milk for their infants, the quest for breast milk substitutes continued after this too proved fruitless.
When infant formulae first hit the market in the 19th century, many mothers stopped exclusively breastfeeding their babies. Breastfeeding was even demonized in some nations in the early 20th century, but that was before medical professionals explained how a kid would suffer if they didn’t receive breast milk. Its saw a resurgence in the 1960s and is still encouraged internationally today.
Breastfeeding Facts
Breastfeeding burns between 500-600 calories a day. That means some Moms may lose weight without engaging in any additional workout.
Stem cells, which develop into various types of body cells like brain, heart, kidney, or bone tissue, are present in breast milk, which is a living substance.
Additionally, antibodies and living white blood cells in breast milk aid in your baby’s ability to fight off infections. Additionally, the quantity of these cells in your breast milk rises when you or your infant is unwell.
Your baby’s intestinal system is coated with specific proteins in the colostrum (your first milk), which helps protect it from hazardous bacteria from the very beginning.
During nursing, your brain releases the hormones prolactin and oxytocin, which aid in the bonding process and reduce the natural tension and anxiety you may experience.
Your diet has an impact on how your breast milk tastes and smells. When you start introducing solid foods to your child, exposing them to more flavors while they are still breastfed may help them become less fussy eaters.
Additionally, you can substitute breast milk for cow’s milk in recipes after your kid starts eating solids.
Not all breast milk is white. Depending on what you eat or drink, it may be blue, green, yellow (oops! gold! ), pink, or orange. Not to worry, the baby is fine.
Your ability to produce a certain amount of breast milk is unrelated to the size of your breasts. The amount of milk-producing tissue in a mother with small breasts is equal to that of a mother with large breasts, if not greater.
As your baby grows, your breast milk adapts to match his or her demands. from one month to the next, week to week, day to day, and even during a single meal.
Breastfeeding mothers are less likely to experience postpartum depression, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, ovarian cancer, or breast or ovarian cancer. Additionally, a woman’s lifetime protection from harm increases the longer she breastfeeds.
Breastfeeding reduces your child’s risk of developing common childhood diseases such as gastroenteritis, ear infections, lung infections, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
Benefits Of Breastfeeding
Nursing is another name for breastfeeding. It is the best approach to give young newborns the vital nutrients they need for development and growth. According to the World Health Organization, breastmilk is the best meal for newborns. It serves as the infants’ first vaccination against a variety of prevalent childhood illnesses and is secure and hygienic.
Why Do Mothers Stop Breastfeeding Early?
60% of mothers don’t continue to breastfeed as long as they want to. 4 There are a number of factors that affect the length of time a mother breastfeeds her child, including:
latching and lactation problems
newborn nutrition and weight worries.
Mothers worry about using medicine while nursing.
insufficient parental leave and unsupportive work practices.
societal expectations and a lack of familial support.
unhelpful hospital procedures and regulations.
HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK
Join a breastfeeding support groupJoin a support group to learn more about breastfeeding and get assistance with any problems you encounter. Look into the advantages of breast milk.
Talk about the benefits of breastfeedingThe week is ideal for spreading awareness of the advantages of breastfeeding and how it can aid a child’s development. You can submit a video or blog on social media to express your ideas.
Share your breastfeeding experienceHow did it go for you to breastfeed? What did you discover? By sharing your experience, you can help others understand your struggles and calm any concerns they might have about the procedure.
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK DATES
Date
Day
Year
August 1
Monday
2022
August 1
Tuesday
2023
August 1
Thursday
2024
August 1
Friday
2025
August 1
Saturday
2026
Conclusion:
There is no doubt that breastfeeding is a healthy and sustainable way of feeding your child. In fact, it has been proven to be the best for their early years. Additionally, it supports bonding between you and your baby. To end on an exciting note, this week marks World Breastfeeding Week (WBFW). This year’s theme aims at promoting the importance of breastfeeding and encouraging new mothers to continue this practice in motherhood. So what are you waiting for? Click here to register your interest today.
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