World Breastfeeding Week is observed in the first week of August every year in many countries across the world. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, and yet currently, fewer than half of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed.
Although various types of infant formula are available today, breast milk remains the most suitable source of nutrition for babies. A mother’s breast milk is the most valuable nourishment because it is rich in the essential nutrients needed for a child’s healthy growth and development. It is the ideal food for newborns, and its benefits extend far beyond meeting a baby’s basic nutritional requirements.
Breast milk is the best first food for a baby because it contains all the essential nutrients in the right proportions to meet the baby’s needs. It protects infants against infections, allergies, and various diseases. Because breast milk is clean, fresh, and naturally provided at the right temperature, it is easy to digest and helps prevent stomach problems in babies.
In addition, breast milk changes over time to meet the baby’s evolving nutritional needs and protects against certain illnesses. Carbohydrates make up about seven per cent of breast milk and give it its natural sweetness. They provide babies with an important source of energy. Likewise, the fat in breast milk is a major source of the energy that infants need.
The fat contained in breast milk consists largely of health-promoting polyunsaturated fats, which are well suited to supporting a baby’s growth and development. Breast milk also contains vitamins A, B, C, and D. Its low mineral content is well suited to an infant’s needs. Approximately 49 per cent of the iron in breast milk is absorbed and utilized by the body, so babies who are exclusively breastfed until about four months of age are less likely to develop iron-deficiency anaemia. Breast milk also contains iodine, which helps prevent goitre. Feeding a baby whenever he or she is hungry provides sufficient water to meet the infant’s daily fluid requirements.
Therefore, babies should be fed exclusively with breast milk, without any supplementary foods, until they are about four months old. Caring for a newborn baby is of utmost importance, as it provides the initial nutrition and care that determine the child’s overall health and development. The first and most essential step in newborn care is breastfeeding. Breast milk is regarded as a vital, life-giving source of nourishment that contains disease-fighting properties essential for strengthening a baby’s immune system.
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