World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated on the first week of August every year to raise awareness and give support to mothers in their nursing journey.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, according to the WHO. Studies have shown that breastfeeding lowers the risk of certain illnesses in children and boost their immune system.
“From better bonding to reducing the risk of diarrhea, respiratory infections and protection against health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, and allergies, the benefits of breastfeeding are manifold. Breastfeeding also helps mothers lose weight, reduce the risk of cancers like ovarian and breast cancers, and osteoporosis later in life,” Angie Whatley, an international board certified lactation consultant from West Memphis, Arkansas, told Medical Daily.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months and continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or longer. Although 75% of mothers in the U.S. start out breastfeeding, only 13% of babies are exclusively breastfed at the end of six months, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Many people are aware of the benefits of breastmilk but several issues during the initial stages of breastfeeding discourage mothers from continuing the process. The most common issues include painful sore nipples, latch issues, breast engorgement and lack of milk supply.
- Sore/ cracked nipples – The condition occurs when the latching is improper or when the breasts become overfilled with milk. The painful condition is experienced by around 90% of breastfeeding mothers, which may prevent them from continuing nursing.
- Latch issues – It happens when the child does not latch on or suck properly. Many factors such as prematurity, jaundice, infection, heart disease, cleft lip, tongue tie and a mother’s medicines can affect a baby’s ability to coordinate the…
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