[h=1]Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal for Life[/h]Submitted by Leslie Elder On Fri, 08/01/2014
According to UNICEF and its partners, less than 50% of newborns are breastfed in the first hour of life, despite evidence supporting the critically important role that immediate skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding play in reduction of neonatal mortality. In addition, optimal breastfeeding of children under 2 years has the potential to prevent 800,000 child deaths every year.
For women who initiate breastfeeding in the first hour after their baby’s birth, there is a reduced risk of postpartum hemorrhage, one of the leading killers of new mothers. And for women who continue to breastfeed exclusively for six months, lack of menstruation conserves iron and contributes to birth spacing.
What can the World Bank Group do to support breastfeeding?
World Bank-supported health and nutrition projects frequently feature programs to promote, protect and support optimal breastfeeding as a critical component of infant and young child feeding efforts. We can continue to advocate with our client country colleagues for the inclusion of this important intervention in national nutrition plans; for national implementation and monitoring of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; for legislation that supports breastfeeding, such as maternity leave covering the six-month period of exclusive breastfeeding; and for the design and support of mother-friendly workplaces (e.g., breastfeeding breaks; workplace crèches; lactation rooms for breastmilk expression).
https://blogs.worldbank.org/health/...e?hootPostID=3ba67cdf522d42715f9781c4befd2871
According to UNICEF and its partners, less than 50% of newborns are breastfed in the first hour of life, despite evidence supporting the critically important role that immediate skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding play in reduction of neonatal mortality. In addition, optimal breastfeeding of children under 2 years has the potential to prevent 800,000 child deaths every year.
For women who initiate breastfeeding in the first hour after their baby’s birth, there is a reduced risk of postpartum hemorrhage, one of the leading killers of new mothers. And for women who continue to breastfeed exclusively for six months, lack of menstruation conserves iron and contributes to birth spacing.
What can the World Bank Group do to support breastfeeding?
World Bank-supported health and nutrition projects frequently feature programs to promote, protect and support optimal breastfeeding as a critical component of infant and young child feeding efforts. We can continue to advocate with our client country colleagues for the inclusion of this important intervention in national nutrition plans; for national implementation and monitoring of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; for legislation that supports breastfeeding, such as maternity leave covering the six-month period of exclusive breastfeeding; and for the design and support of mother-friendly workplaces (e.g., breastfeeding breaks; workplace crèches; lactation rooms for breastmilk expression).
https://blogs.worldbank.org/health/...e?hootPostID=3ba67cdf522d42715f9781c4befd2871
