Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is an area that I find myself becoming more interested in learning about as I get ready to have my child. Throughout my early childhood education courses, I am learning the important benefits that breast-feeding offers my newborn. The benefits are:

1.  Early breastmilk, colostrum, is rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect a newborn baby
2.  Breastmilk offers a newborn the appropriate amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein needed to promote a healthy infant
3.  Breastmilk is easier to digest
4. Breastmilk helps fight diseases by exposing the infant to cells, hormones, and antibodies (Office on Women’s Health, 2011).

Breastfeeding offers many benefits to new mother as well:

1. Breastfeeding is easier than bottle feeding
2. Breastfeeding saves money
3. Breastfeeding boost oxytocin levels because of the skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant
4. Breastfeeding promote healthier mothers and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and postpartum depression (Office on Women’s Health, 2011).

One country, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR), is a country that needs to promote breastfeeding better. In 2013, a study was released regarding breast-feeding and newborns under six months. The study found by 2-3 months of age 65% of the newborns were already receiving something other than breast milk (Szoptatas Portal, 2013). The researchers interviewed 66 mothers who were currently breastfeeding about their practices before initiating breastfeeding. The results of the research indicated that:

• 23 mothers gave their infants something other breast milk

o   16 mothers gave their infant sugar water and 2 gave their infant water

During the 24 hours process of interviewing the group of mothers, researcher discovered

• 39% (29 infants) were exclusively breast fed
• 27% (18 infants) received water, in addition to human milk
• 18% (12 infants) received formula, in addition to human milk
• 15% (10 infants) received porridge, in addition to human milk (Szoptatas Portal, 2013).

During the interview, the mothers provided researchers reasons why they supplemented the human milk. They indicated water was needed to help aid digestion. Other reasons to supplement formula was the baby was not getting enough milk or the child was young enough to start foods (Szoptatas Portal, 2013).

By understanding the importance of breastfeeding for infants and understanding the cultural differences, I will be able to help new mothers. Many new mothers are concerned with the topic of breastfeeding and may or may not be comfortable with the process. By knowing the benefits, I can stress to them the importance of breastfeeding while being sensitive to her cultural beliefs. Breastfeeding is a very delicate topic amongst new mothers. So it will also be important to be supportive of any decision made by the parent on this topic.

References

Office on Women's Health. (2011). Breastfeeding. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/

Szoptatas Portal. (2013). International breastfeeding journal. Retrieved from http://www.szoptatasportal.hu/aggregator/sources/2