Benefits of Breastfeeding to the child, mother, family and Community - World Breastfeeding Week 2016

This year's world breastfeeding week is aimed at raising the awareness that sustainable development can be achieved through breastfeeding. Not only does the mother and the child benefits from breastfeeding but the community/country as a whole is not left out. Here are a few things that breastfeeding your infant can do.


Benefits to the Child

• Breast milk contains the right amount of nutrients required by the child for growth and development.
• Breast milk is easier to digest than other breast milk substitutes.
• Breast milk contains antibodies that protects the young infants from common diseases such as diarrhoea that can be fatal at his/her age. 
• Breast milk can help reduce risk of short-term or long-term health problems in preterms.
• Breast milk is a source of clean water to the baby.

Benefits to the Mother

• Helps to lose the excess weight gained during pregnancy.
• Reduces the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
• Reduces the risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
• Helps with the healing of the uterus after birth.

Benefits to the Family

• Reduces cost on food (poverty reduction).
• Reduces cost on medical care.

Benefits to the Community

• Reduced child mortality rate.
• It is a clean source of energy - does not create pollution.
• Reduces costs on health care.
• Breastfed children are less liable to violence.
• Reduced absenteeism at workplace by parents due to child illness.

Breastfeeding can do a lot more. It is a safe, cheap and nutritious way to feed your infant. To enjoy the great benefits of this natural miracle food, it is advised that six months exclusive breastfeeding be observed.