August 1st marks the start of World Breastfeeding Week. This week is organized by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) with the goal of highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding for both newborns and their mothers. The theme for WBW this year is “Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal – For Life!” With this theme, WABA aims to emphasize that successful breastfeeding of infants across the globe is a team effort involving friends, families, and healthcare providers offering support to new mothers.
Your breast milk serves two important roles in keeping your baby healthy and happy. Breast milk supplies vital nutrients to nourish your baby. Besides nutrients, breast milk contains antibodies that your body has produced from fighting infections. These antibodies are passed on to your baby through your breast milk. By sharing immunity proteins, breastfeeding reduces your baby’s risk of developing many ailments including ear and respiratory infections, and diarrhea. This is essential for the health of your baby as a newborn’s immune system is still developing.
There are significant benefits of breastfeeding for a mother’s health. Studies have found that breastfeeding is linked to lower risks of breast and ovarian cancer in women. Breastfeeding can impact emotional health as well as physical health. Taking the time to breastfeed allows for close contact between you and your baby. This closeness is comforting for your baby, regulating heart and breathing rate, and can be calming for you as well.
Several health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend exclusive breastfeeding for an infant’s first six months because of the health benefits that breastfeeding poses for both you and your baby.
Learn more about the short and long term health benefits of breastfeeding from La Leche League International. Visit WorldBreastfeedingWeek.org to read about WABA’s objectives for World Breastfeeding Week, for breastfeeding tips, visit WomensHealth.gov.
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