National Breastfeeding Awareness Week

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week is an annual health campaign coordinated by the Department of Health to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and encourage more mums to give it a go. This year, the awareness campaign will focus on the importance of support during breastfeeding from those closest to mothers: partners, peers and family members. Hollywood star Courteney Cox-Arquette has spoken out in favour of the campaign, giving encouragement to all new mums. She says, "Breastfeeding is undoubtedly the best thing you can do for your baby. It took a lot of persevering through the early weeks because my daughter did not latch on properly, and, honestly, it really hurt. But I am so happy I stayed with it because not only do I have a special bond with my child, but it's so easy now and she is extremely healthy."
New research commissioned by The Department of Health for the campaign has revealed that, despite popular belief, the majority of men are supportive of breastfeeding, with 79 per cent of those surveyed saying that they would want their children to be breastfed.
The survey also revealed that 71 per cent of men would feel comfortable about their partner breastfeeding and 56 per cent have/would try to influence/advise their partner about whether or not to breastfeed
The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. Almost a third of women (29 per cent) in England and Walesnever try to breastfeed compared to 2 per cent in Sweden. As a result, in 2003 the government set targets for all primary care trusts to increase the number of women taking up breastfeeding by 2 per cent a year, focusing especially on women from disadvantaged groups.

The benefits of breastfeeding

Dr Anthony Williams - senior lecturer and consultant in neonatal paediatrics at St George's Hospital Medical School, London, says:
"Breastfeeding for three months or more reduces a baby's chances of catching diarrhoea, chest and ear infections. It may also reduce the risk of later eczema, obesity and diabetes for the child. Breastfeeding may also reduce the risk of a mother acquiring breast cancer before the menopause.
"There is additional evidence to suggest that breastfeeding leads to a reduction in blood pressure at school age and an improvement of IQ levels, especially when babies are born prematurely. This is a very positive and exciting development for the health of future generations. Breastfeeding gives a baby the best start possible and helps to set down a pattern of good health for life."

Reasons to breastfeed

1. Breastmilk provides everything your baby needs for the first six months.
2. Your baby will have a lower risk of gastro-enteritis, respiratory, urinary tract and ear infections, eczema and childhood diabetes.
3. You'll have a lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer and breastfeeding also helps the womb return to normal.
4. Breastmilk is always available and at the right temperature. It can also be expressed so everyone can help with feeding.
5. It's free - in fact, it saves you an estimated £450 across a year.
6. It also saves the nation money - the NHS spends an estimated £35m per year treating gastro-enteritis in bottlefed babies in England.
7. Breastfed babies have higher IQs - a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that breastfed infants tested 5.2 IQ points higher than bottlefed infants.
8. Breastfeeing helps develop a strong emotional bond with your child.
9. Breastfed babies are less likely to be obese as adults.
10. Breastmilk is delivered without any pollution, unnecessary packaging or waste.
11. Women who breastfeed regain their figures sooner than women who bottlefeed. Your body burns about 500 calories a day when making breastmilk.

Breastfeeding tips

* Ask a relative or friend to give you a few hours' extra help at home in the early days. This will free you up to spend time getting breastfeeding right.
* Make sure your back is straight. Try feeding in a straight-backed chair or support your back with pillows.
* It's a good idea to put a glass of water or juice by your side before you settle down to breastfeed in case you get thirsty.
* If you have painful swollen breasts, your milk may not be flowing effectively. Get help to check the position of your baby while he or she is feeding, as a poor position may stop the baby from emptying the breast.
* Try to make breastfeeding special for all the family, especially older brothers or sisters. You might want to give them a snack and a drink so they're being fed too, or you could keep a story tape, video or box of toys especially for this occasion.
* You can store expressed milk in the back of the fridge (where it's coldest) for 24 hours, or in the freezer for up to three months. Milk at room temperature should be used immediately.
Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk

posted by: mercuryrising (reply)
post date: 06.30.06 (7:35 pm)

Nice post ;) Very informative.