Breast milk offer the best and most complete food for the infant. Since it also provides the infant with antibodies, breast milk helps to ward off the risk of illness, while the early introduction of other liquids and solids, often prepared in sufficiently, hygienic conditions, increase the likelihood of infections, resulting in potential life-threatening conditions such as diarrhoea.
Exclusive breast feeding for the first four to six months is sufficient to support the growth and development of infants and should be followed by the progressive introduction of high quality complementary food alongside breast milk until about 24 months of age to sustain the rate of growth.
Before 1900, most mothers breast feed their infants. Breast feeding rates declined sharply world wide after 1920, when evaporated cow milk and infant formula become widely available. These were promoted as being more convenient for mothers and more nutritious than human milk, breast feeding rates began rising again in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Despite evidence of some improvement over the past decade, the breastfeeding rates in Nigeria remain low. Although breastfeeding of new born is nearly universal in Nigeria and does not differ by sex of infant, geographical zone, urban or rural residence, material education, place or assistance at delivery. Surveys have found that complementary foods are introduced too early by the vast majority of mothers.
The 1999 surveys, showed that about 22 percent of children age 0-3 months had been exclusively breastfed in the 24 hours proceeding the survey. Another important indicator is the time of initiation of breastfeeding. Early initiation within a few hours of birth will ensure that the protective antibodies in colostrums are available rapidly to the infants. Colostrums, the first milk produced has all the nutrients a newborn infant needs, it also contains many substance to protect against infections. The body produces colostrums for several days until the “mature milk” comes in. Mature milk adjusts to the baby’s needs for the rest of the time the infant is breastfed.
Benefits for infants
1 Perfect food for infant
2 Guarantees safe, fresh milk
3 Enhance immue system
4 Protects against infections and non-infections disease
5 Protects against food allergies and into lerances.
6 Decreases risk of diarrhea and respiratory infections
7 Promotes correct development of jaw, teeth and speech patterns
8 Decreases risk of childhood obesity.
9 Increase cognitive function
10 Increase bonding with mother.
Benefits for mothers:
- Promotes faster
shrinking of the uterus
- Promotes less post partum bleeding
- Promotes faster return to pre-pregnancy weight
- Eliminates the need for preparing and mixing formula
- Saves money not spent on formula
- Decrease risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Increase bonding with infant.
- Enhances self-esteem in maternal role
- Delays the menstrual cycle
Breastfeeding or lactation is infact the ideal method of feeding and nurturing infants. Most health organisations recommend infants be exclusively breastfeed during the first four to six months of life, but ideally through the year. premature infants also benefit from their mother’s milk. In developing countries, breastfeeding up to age two, with appropriate supplementary solid foods, maintains good nutrition /status and prevents diarrhoea.
Human milk contains the right balance of nutrients for human growth and development. It is low in total protein and high in carbohydrates, making it more digestible and less stressful on the immature kidneys. In addition, each mammal produces milk that is nutritionally and immunologically tailored for its young. A significant benefit of human milk is that it contains many immunologic agents that protect the infant against bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Breastfeeding also provides many benefits for the mother.
An increase in breatfeeding could save the lives of millions of children in a year worldwide. However, the aggressive marketing campaigns by infant formula companies and the promotion of infant formula by health professionals combine to discourage breastfeeding.
Milk production requires about 800 calories a day. The recommended dietary allowances for calories during breastfeeding is 500, more calories a day than is required by a non-pregnant woman.
In 1998, the government of Nigeria approved a breastfeeding policy and on May 1999, it reviewed and amended the code on the marketing of breast milk substitutes, to introduce stiffer fines and a clearer definition of breast milk substitutes.
It is hoped that these measures will assist in increasing the exclusive breastfeeding rate, as well as the early initiation of breastfeeding, so that Nigeria can move towards achieving the goals of universal exclusives breastfeeding for children up to six months of age.
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