World Breastfeeding Week:Why every breastfeeding mother needs a support system
In observance of World Breastfeeding Week, health experts are emphasizing the necessity of robust support systems for new mothers. The initiative highlights that breastfeeding is a learned skill that requires guidance to ensure infant nutrition and maternal well-being.
Why it matters
Public health awareness campaigns are critical for improving infant mortality rates and supporting maternal health through education and community resources.
How to offer a healthy start to a baby’s life? The answer lies in exclusive breastfeeding. From antibodies to exclusive nutrients, the benefits of breastfeeding are immense. The World Health Organisation and UNICEF recommend initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. The theme this year for World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated annually from August 1 to 7, is prioritise breastfeeding, create sustainable support systems.
“Breastfeeding may be natural, but it is also a skill that mothers need to learn,” says lactation consultant and child nutrition specialist R Baby Shree of Rao Hospital, adding that there is need to move beyond discussing the benefits of breast milk and focus on the support new mothers need. “Breastfeeding is not something a mother automatically knows after delivering a baby. She needs guidance and support.”
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