File photo: nursing mother Breastfeeding her baby
By Ayobami Agboola
As the world marks this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Convention Against Gender Abuse Initiative (CAGAI), has charged nursing mothers to take it as a point of duty to breastfeed their infants exclusively during the first 6 months
The National President of CAGAI, Princess Ibirogba Adesewa gave the charge while delivering her speech during the celebration of the World breastfeeding week in FCT, Abuja
Adesewa said that exclusive and appropriate breastfeeding of a child was the best way to provide ideal food for healthy growth and development of infants.
She said exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality due to common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea or pneumonia, and help quicker recovery during illness.
She said: “Breastfeeding is the action of feeding a baby with the milk from the breast.
“Breastfeeding also called nursing is the process of feeding woman breast milk to a child either directly from the breast or by expressing(pumping out) the milk from the breast and bottle feeding to the infant.
“Exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant receives only breast milk. No other liquids or solids are given not even water with the exception of oral rehydration solution or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicine.
“The American academy of pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusive breastfed for about the first 6 months with continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for 1 year or longer.
“The milk changes in volume and composition according to the time of the day, nursing frequency and age of the baby to promote healthy growth.
Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby.”
Benefits and importance of breastfeeding to the mother according to CAGAI President includes; Lower risk of breast cancer, Lower risk of Ovarian cancer, Lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lumps, Less endometriosis, Less osteoporosis with age, Less diabetes, Less hypertension, decreases blood pressure, Less cardiovascular diseases.
While the benefits and importance of breastfeeding to the baby includes;
“It helps keep the baby healthy, It supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions, It protects against allergies, sickness and obesity, It protects against infection, like ear, eye, nose etc, It is easily digested – no constipation, diarrhea or stomach upset, babies have healthier weight as they grow, and breastfed babies score higher IQ test.
“we urge all mothers to take it as a point of duty to breastfeed their infants exclusively during the first 6 months and introduce to them gradually family food in the second 6 months.
Breastfeeding should be done between 1year,6months and 2years.
Happy world breastfeeding week to all mothers in the universe.
CAGAI celebrates you
