The World Health Organization [WHO] (2013) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life in order to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Breastfeeding have numerous benefits for infants, and it is especially important in enhancing their immune system and resistance to infections (Coalition for Improving Maternal Services [CIMS], 2009). Since, infant’s own immune system is not fully developed until approximately 2 years of age; human milk provided an enriched source of white blood cells, which are transferred to the baby, helping to fight infections from bacteria, viruses and intestinal parasites (CIMS, 2009). Breastfeeding is extremely important in reducing the incidence and/or severity of ear, respiratory tract, and urinary tract infection, diarrhoea, bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, obesity and diabetes (CIMS, 2009; United Nations Children's Fund [UNICEF], 2010). In addition, it has been found to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome [SIDS] (CIMS, 2009).
There are also a number of benefits of breastfeeding for the mother this includes, an enhanced feeling of attachment between mother and baby; as levels of oxytocin are release during breastfeeding, the hormone promotes uterine contractions, which decreases the likely hood of postpartum hemorrhage; breastfeeding lowers the risk of developing ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis later in life (CIMS, 2009).
It is important for mothers of multiple infants, receive effective physical and emotional support to establish successful breastfeeding relationships (Brodibb, 2012). Breastfeeding can become more increasingly complicated as they learn to manage more than one infant at a time, trying to deal with...
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...these medications can affect her orientation and the ability to organize herself, in addition she may have been had extended bed rest and/or heavy loss of blood resulting in her experience weakness (Walker, 2013). In this case, midwives need to take into account that these mothers are unable to absorb verbal teachings, remember details about each infant’s condition and keep record of her breastfeeding regime, until the effect of the medications have worn off, thus breastfeeding assessment is important at this time (Walker, 2014). Mother’s may also need an extra helping hand at this time, at this point, midwives may help position and attach the baby, and provide extra pillows to help support her back and weight of her babies during breastfeeding, also recommending parents to purchase a V-Shaped or U-shaped pillows to help with the feeding, once at home (MBF, 2011).
What are the benefits of breastfeeding, you might be wondering? Well for starters breast milk is very crucial for a newborn. Not only does it feed and
This article goes over the different immunological properties that are found in breast milk and how they affect the mother and infant. There is also information on how the mother’s milk helps develop the immune system of her infant through breast feeding. The author is currently researching maternal health and the development of infants at the Women & Children’s Health Research Institute and holds a Ph.D. The sources that she cites in her article are credible sources, which makes her article credible also. I will be using this article to support my claim on the health benefits an infant receives from breastfeeding.
benefits for both the mother and the child. Many researchers have concluded that breast milk helps improve overall infant health and reduces risks of some diseases and cancers for the infant as well as the mother. According to Newman and Pitman, there are numerous health benefits for a breastfed infant. They describe that breast milk contains anti-bodies that keep a child from getting ill, and that the milk’s composition changes as the child grows to better protect and benefit the immune system and growth of the child (Newman, Pitman 19). The most immediate health benefit for the infant is the reduction of the chances of an infant dying from sudden infant death syndrome, more commonly known as SIDS or crib death (Newman, Pitman 11). More long term benefits are reductions for the chances of a child developing diabetes, asthma and other respiratory diseases, ear infections, and even cancer development during childhood. There is also evidence of a reduced chance of a breastfed child developing Crohn’s disease or forms of heart disease, as well as minor health problems such as allergies and eczema (Newman, Pitman 11-12). Newman and Pitman also write that children who were breastfed show signs of more enhanced brain development and tend to score higher on tests than those children who were formula fed, due to the fact that breast milk is made for humans by humans and therefore already contains the nutrients that are essential to brain development (10). As is the case with infants, breastfeeding also contributes to health benefits for the mother. In an article published in the Journal of Women’s Health, God...
Nutrition and breastfeeding are subjects that can relate greatly to each other. New mothers are in a need of information regarding breastfeeding. Mothers receive the information and instructions on how to breastfeed at the hospital where they bear their children. That information is essential in the decision making process of whether to breastfeed or not. Still the clear choice for mothers everywhere is breastfeeding for several important life affecting reasons. Breast milk is highly nutritional, protects from various diseases, ideal in growth, promotes bonding, and is beneficial for the mother in a recovery process after labor.
“Commercially prepared infant formulas are a nourishing alternative to breast milk, and even contains vitamins and nutrients that breastfed infants need to get from supplements (Pearl, E., 2015). Breastfeeding is proven to strengthen the immune system for children of all ages. While a mother nurses the infant, the mother passes down nutrients and antibodies from the milk the babies drink while nursing. Like immunizations building invulnerabilities for people destructive illnesses, breast milk gives additional antibodies to infants to help them. Nursing sessions are less demanding to retain and process the formula since it contains living development elements, hormones, and chemicals which help an infant to effectively process all healthy intake from each feeding (The Office on Women’s Health, 2012). Further, in creating nations, scientists found that for newborn children who were not breastfed have danger of dying from irresistible infections, in the primary month is six times more prominent than babies who were breastfed (Chen and Rogan, 2004). Children that are breastfed have less problems with digestive systems due to the breast milk, a standout amongst the most essential advantages of breast milk is the containing living parts, for example, contamination battling antibodies, white platelets, red platelets, and hostile to viral components (Taylor, 2013). All which are essential to the growth of a newborn's digestive system that formula does not
Breastfeeding is when a woman feeds her child from her breast. Breastfeeding has been around since before the 15th century. In addition to strengthening the bond between a mother and her baby, breastfeeding offers a number of benefits for both a mother and her child. Babies who are breastfed have lower risk of meningitis, various cancers, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, childhood leukemia, allergies and obesity. Mothers have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis. All mothers no matter where they are weather it be the mall, park, restaurant, or just out running errands need to have their right to breastfeed protected.
There many advantages to breastfeeding! Research shows that breastfed infants have fewer and shorter episodes of illness. The nutrition provided by breastmilk benefits the baby’s IQ. The skin-to-skin contact encouraged by breastfeeding offers babies greater emotional security and enhances bonding. Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of obesity and hypertension for the infant later in life. Breastfeeding delays the onset of hereditary allergic disease, and lowers the risk of developing allergic disease. Breastfeeding helps the baby’s immune system mature, protecting the baby in the meantime from viral, bacteria, and parasitic infections. Breastfeeding protects against developing chronic diseases such as: celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and childhood cancers. (Shinskie and Lauwers, 2002)
Women do not breastfeed long enough. Although healthcare workers try to promote the breast method, many women do not continue with it. Breastfeeding does come with challenges; however, the phrase “breast is best” is the role of the nurse in conjunction with education. A mother a...
According to Article 24 in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child is opted to the utmost attainable standard of health. (United Nations, 1989) From the day of childbirth and up to the age of two is the most critical period of time of the advancement of good health including good growth, as well as cognitive and behavioral development. The most effective way to promote optimal growth for a child is through feeding, more specifically through breastfeeding. Despite obvious precautions, such as a mother who has HIV or some other disorder that can be transmitted through fluid, breast milk is far superior to formula feeding. It is the most nutritional and beneficial way a mother can provide proper nutrients and immunological support for her baby. Without the support of breast milk, the sustainability of a healthy baby can seriously decrease. According to the World Health Organization, lack of proper nutrition leads to 45% of child deaths. (World Health Organization, 2014) Breastfeeding is a true phenomenon that is not only extremely beneficial for the baby but equally for the mother as well. It is what breast milk consists of that makes is so valuable to child survival, immunity, development, and growth; and it is the act of breastfeeding that is equally favorable to the mother.
Though breastfeeding is undoubtedly the optimum feeding method, it is not necessarily a possibility for some mothers (The Nemours Foundation). For example, couples who choose to adopt children are obviously not able to breastfeed their child because the mother is not lactating. Other mothers just simply do not have the time to breastfeed their children because they are busy running errands (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). Another reason some mothers do not breastfeed is that they are using a babysitter so they need the babysitter to have some way to feed the child (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). The reasons behind bottle feeding are definitely sound, but they only prove that bottle feeding is an alternative method, not a replacement for breastfeeding. Th...
With today’s economy everyone is trying to manage their money and ways of cutting unnecessary spending. Which could lead a mother to choose breastfeeding her infant. Breastfeeding is free and it provides the infant with antibodies passed from the mother to help lower the risk of many medical conditions. Breast milk is often referred to as the "perfect food" for a human baby's digestive system because breast milk is easily digested by a newborn's immature system. (2). Breast milk is easily digested so that breastfed babies have fewer occurrences of diarrhea or constipation (2).
When it comes to being a mother there are so many things that matter, starting with why we should breastfeed. Breastfeeding has more nutritional benefits for your baby that sometimes are overlooked. Breastfeeding is more than just feeding your baby, but has even been a way creating that bond between mother and her child which is completely unforgettable. Breastfeeding has been known to help benefit babies and well as the mother.
Breastfeeding provides a wide array of health benefits for both baby and mother, while simultaneously enhancing the bond between mom and her baby. Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer. Their babies see a boost in cognitive development, as well as lowering their chances of being obese as adults, unlike formula fed babies. Consequently, a lower risk of obesity correlates to a lower incident of a wide array of comorbidities such as
Breast milk is made for the baby having just the right amount of protein, sugar, water, and fat that is needed for a baby’s growth and development. As breast milk is easier for newborn’s to digest than formal, it prevents intestinal upsets. Furthermore, breast milk includes substances such as immunoglobulin’s...
Mothers who feel like they have successfully mastered the task of breastfeeding are associated with an increased duration of breastfeeding at six months (Kingston, Dennis, & Sword, 2007; McGarter-Spaulding & Gore, 2009; Wilheml, Rodehorst, Stepans, Hertzog, & Berens, 2008). However, Buxton et al. (1991) reported that mothers with low confidence related to their ability to breastfeed stop breastfeeding within the first week postpartum and were twice as likely to discontinue breastfeeding within 2 months compared to mothers who were more confident. One of the major decision factors causing mothers to discontinue breastfeeding is a deterioration and lack of breastfeeding confidence (Blyth, Creedy, Dennis, Moyle, Pratt, & Vries, 2002). I had empathized with the patient because she truly looked helpless and seemed to have a lack of confidence. For the short duration that her baby would latch on, the mother looked very happy with a radiant smile. You could tell she really wanted to breastfeed and tried really hard but she did not know the techniques to it and needed a lot of help and guidance but seemed quite shy to ask for help or to see if she was doing it