08/09/2018
More than half of babies in Nepal are breastfed in the first hour of life
https://www.unicef.org/nepal/press-releases/more-half-babies-nepal-are-breastfed-first-hour-life
KATHMANDU, 1 August 2018, – An estimated 55 babies out of 100, in Nepal, are breastfed within the first hour of their life. However, the remaining number of babies are not being breastfed within the first hour, putting them at a higher risk of death and disease and making them less likely to continue breastfeeding, says UNICEF and WHO in a new report . The estimation of…, Feeding newborns food or drinks, including formula:, Common practices, such as discarding colostrum, an elder feeding the baby honey or health professionals giving the newborn a specific liquid, such as sugar water or infant formula, delay a newborn’s first critical contact with his or her mother., The rise in elective C-sections:, In Nepal, caesarean section rates nearly doubled between 2011 and 2016, increasing from 4.6 per cent to 9 per cent. Less than one-third babies born by C-section were breastfed in the first hour after birth, compared to about two-thirds babies born by natural delivery., Gaps in the quality of care provided to mothers and newborns:, The presence of a skilled birth attendant does not seem to affect rates of early breastfeeding, according to the report. In Nepal between 2006 and 2016, deliveries at health institutions grew by 39 percentage points (from 18 to 57 per cent), while early initiation rates increased by 20 percentage points (from 35 to 55 per cent). In many cases,…, About the World Health Organization, The World Health Organization directs and coordinates international health within the United Nations system. Working with its 194 Member States, WHO’s mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. For more information about WHO, visit www.who.int . Learn about WHO’s work on breastfeeding here . Follow WHO on Twitter…