Surjit Singh Flora
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August, This year’s theme, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” serves as a call to action to establish lasting and fair structures that assist breastfeeding mothers and strengthen families. WBW transcends a mere campaign; it embodies a global movement dedicated to ensuring that every child receives the healthiest beginning in life, while also fostering a sustainable future for our communities and the planet.
Breastfeeding enables the mother to promptly address her infant’s hunger cues. This helps to keep the baby calm and content while the mother prepares a bottle, resulting in a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The mother may begin feeding the baby almost immediately upon noticing the initial signs of hunger, well before any signs of grumpiness or agitation arise.
Breastfeeding significantly reduces the likelihood of breast cancer in mothers, particularly for those with genetic predispositions to the disease. This is cumulative the more months/years she spends breastfeeding during her lifetime, the lower the risk.
Breastfeeding aids weight loss for most women. Breastfeeding facilitates the contraction of the uterus, enabling it to return to its pre-pregnancy dimensions.
For many new mothers, the early days after childbirth are filled with a blend of emotions-joy, exhaustion, and for some, uncertainty regarding breastfeeding.
Interestingly, it is quite common for the body to produce an abundant milk supply shortly after delivery, often more than the baby can consume. This natural overproduction, referred to as the milk “letdown,” can lead to significant waste of milk if not stored correctly.
However, months later, as the baby’s appetite grows considerably, some mothers encounter the contrasting issue of a decrease in milk supply that does not satisfy the increased demand. This discrepancy can induce avoidable tension and may result in premature dependence on alternative feeding methods. However, the positive aspect is that there’s an intelligent and feasible approach to address this issue: expressing and freezing breast milk.
Extracting surplus milk in the initial weeks and ensuring proper storage for later use enables mothers to establish a dependable supply. This method guarantees that the infant will keep enjoying the advantages of breast milk, even during supply variations, while also providing mothers with greater flexibility and reassurance.
When handled correctly, expressed breast milk can be securely kept in a freezer for as long as six months, and in certain situations, it may last up to seven or even eight months in a deep freezer maintained at consistently low temperatures. To begin, it is important for mothers to utilize a clean, high-quality breast pump, whether manual or electric, and to express milk ideally following a feeding session when the baby is satisfied.
The containers you utilize for expressing are suitable for brief storage, like a few hours or possibly until tomorrow in the refrigerator. It’s advisable to utilize storage bags for keeping breast milk over extended periods, whether it’s a few days in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer. For the best nutritional value, consuming it within 3-4 months is recommended.
Alongside maintaining the quality of your milk, these sanitized containers are suitable for freezing (simply place them in a separate freezer bag or on a piece of cardboard to prevent sticking). They can be sealed similarly to storage bags, and there are even small indicators on the bag to show the amount of liquid contained within. They also offer available times and dates.
For women in the workforce, the option to express and store milk is an essential need, especially for new mothers who encounter considerable challenges in nursing their infants. Every mother aims to provide her child with breast milk, even in her absence. Many mothers utilize a device to extract and store their milk, allowing them to manage this situation effectively.
The method of storing breast milk can be quite confusing for new mothers; therefore, it is essential to understand the various ways to safely keep your expressed milk.
It is important to cleanse your hands thoroughly with soap and water prior to expressing your breast milk. Ensure that the expressed milk is kept in a container that is free from harmful chemicals, made of durable plastic or glass, and thoroughly sanitized.
For the best results in thawing frozen milk, it’s advisable to place the container in the refrigerator overnight or gently run it under warm water. It is important to avoid microwaving, as this can lead to the loss of essential nutrients and the formation of hazardous hot spots. Ultimately, the process of extracting and preserving milk can enable mothers to sustain a sufficient supply during their nurturing experience.
During the initial six months of life, it is recommended that infants exclusively receive breast milk as their primary source of nourishment. Storing the milk not only allows you to nourish your baby in your absence, but it also guarantees that you maintain an adequate supply.
Emotional growth
Attachment theory indicates that infants and children who experience a sense of security develop greater confidence as they mature. Toddlers are exploring their environment, encountering challenges, and realizing that not everything comes easily. Tantrums and meltdowns can be swiftly resolved with a brief 1- or 2-minute breastfeeding session, restoring balance effectively.
The child possesses an understanding and trust that this is achievable, which typically fosters confidence in children as they grow. Many individuals believe that breastfeeding fosters dependency in a child; however, research indicates that it actually promotes independence. Failing to nurture a young child can lead to feelings of neediness or, even more concerning, a sense of abandonment.
Benefits for maternal health
The total duration of breastfeeding a mother engages in correlates with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer. This observation is particularly significant among women who have a familial predisposition to this condition.
Breastfeeding two distinct infants for three months each result in a cumulative total of six months. In contrast, nursing those infants for three years each extends the duration to six years, representing a twelvefold increase. This will significantly reduce the risk for a mother.
From a health perspective, breast milk is ideal for babies. However, in resource-rich nations where there are dependable and hygienic alternatives, women with certain diseases, like HIV, should not breastfeed since they run the risk of passing their condition on to their newborn.
Breastfeeding serves as a fundamental mechanism through which nature safeguards the species against various challenges. Breastfeeding enables the maternal immune system to assist the infant in combating these illnesses. Achieving the same outcome without maternal breast milk would incur a cost of $1 million per pill or higher. Breastfeeding represents an invaluable investment in your child’s future, requiring only your time as the currency for this profound gift. What could possibly hold you back from putting forth your utmost effort to provide your child with this invaluable gift?
Indeed, breastfeeding is essential. This has the potential to be life-saving for your child. It is projected to enhance your child’s IQ by an average of 7 points. Just a mere 7 IQ points can significantly impact whether your child excels in math or faces challenges.
Provide your child with the invaluable benefits of breastfeeding. Optimal health is an enduring asset. Your children deserve it.
(The writer is a freelance writer and journalist)