Breastfeeding vital for newborn, infants

The world observed 'breastfeeding week' from August 1-7 of this year. Breastfeeding is very important, especially for newborn babies as well as infants. Newborns, who are breastfed during the first hour of their life, are more likely to survive and be healthy. A delay in providing this milk to the newborn even by a few hours after birth can lead to life-threatening consequences.

Mother's milk protects the baby from various health hazards. Many mothers feel that breast milk is not enough for their newborn. So they give them powdered milk. This can create further health complications.

Also, mothers, who regularly breastfeed, quickly recover from post-delivery syndromes. They are also less likely to face cancer and diabetes type 2 diseases. Breastfeeding also creates a bond between a mother and her baby.

Different public and private campaigns are going on in the country to raise awareness about this issue. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months reduces the rate of the infant mortality rate. Bangladesh has achieved a good progress in this sector, but it still has a long way to go in order to ensure that each and every child grows up healthy.

Roksana Sultana

Uttara, Dhaka