WBW - How can we help young mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals?

Motherhood is an important phase in a woman's life and 'Breastfeeding' often becomes part of a woman's identity as she enters this journey. Making the decision to breastfeed is personal and intimate. It's also one that's likely to draw opinions from friends and family. In my opinion, breastfeeding remains the most powerful form of interaction between the mother and the infant, especially in the early days.

You may have heard that “breast milk is the best” for an infant. It’s 100% true: There are a numerous benefits for the mother and the baby. Most importantly, it creates a bonding experience between mother and child - creating a proud sense of 'Maternal Fulfillment'.

?I strongly believe that breast milk, indeed, provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat -- everything a baby needs to grow. Infact, the body is equipped to change the composition of the milk based on the baby's requirements - which is nothing short of miraculous!

For every organisation and professional that is committed to empowering women in the workplace - cognizance of the importance of breastfeeding is critical. It becomes our responsibility to normalize breastfeeding and facilitate it for women who desire to embark on this journey.

Given the importance associated with this very emotional practice, World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is celebrated every year across the world from August 1-7. WBW is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness about breastfeeding and its advantages with a unique and powerful theme every year since 1992.

Benefits of breastfeeding:

Many experts say that affectionate bonding during the first years of life helps lessen social and behavioral problems in both children and adults. Experts are also of the opinion that breastfed mothers are closer to their babies as compared to bottle-fed mothers - but I will refrain from commenting on this. Breastfeeding is associated with numerous health benefits to offspring and mothers and may improve maternal-infant bonding.

Let’s take a quick look at what are the key benefits:

·???????For the mother:

1. Decreases the risk of mothers developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease

2. Lowers risks of allergies, asthma and inflammatory diseases

3. Helps in faster and easy recovery from childbirth

4. Lowers chance of developing postpartum depression

5. Helps in losing pregnancy weight faster

·???????For the infant:

1. Reduces the baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

2. Provides the specific nutrients that meet the baby’s needs

3. Helps in developing immediate and lifelong immunities

4. Helps in supporting proper brain development through Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in breast milk

5. Reduce risk of developing middle ear infections, diabetes and allergies

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In conclusion, breastfeeding isn’t always easy. It may take time for new moms to learn this skill.?Many women of childbearing age are not aware or exposed to breastfeeding, either because the women in their lives didn’t do it, or for many reasons, it’s a new concept to them. This is one aspect of parenting that only the mother can do for her baby, creating a unique and powerful physical and emotional connection.

At the workplace, we can and should facilitate breastfeeding by accommodating work time or work place for new moms or by providing a safe space for them to pump through the day.

Let us not allow lack of understanding about this concept to dilute its importance in any way. Please do join me in creating awareness about this most beautiful and emotional parenting experience by sharing your thoughts in comments section and the article with your friends and connections.

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