Breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding to children are enormous and almost every mother can breastfeed successfully. Therefore, let us support mothers to ensure they breastfeed their babies for at least two years for optimal growth and development. Boosting children’s nutrition during the first 1,000 days of their lives – from the start of the mother’s pregnancy to the child’s second birthday – through breastfeeding, age appropriate complementary feeding and other nutrition interventions provides children with the best start in life. 

When babies are breastfed, they grow healthier and stronger compared to those that are not.

We share some of the key facts you need to know about breastfeeding, a practice that gives your baby the healthiest foundation in life:

1. When the baby is born, feed them on only breastmilk and not any other fluids (not even water), or foods, except prescribed medicine. Breastmilk alone is the best food and drink, with the perfect balance of nutrients for your baby during the first six months of life. Giving the baby any other food increases chances of the baby getting diarrhoea and other infections. 
2. Immediately after delivery, put the baby on the mother’s chest skin to skin. This fosters bonding and also enables the baby, through a natural rooting reflex to be initiated on breastfeeding within one hour of birth. The thick yellowish milk also known as colostrum, that the mother produces in the first few days after giving birth, is the perfect food for newborn babies. It is very nutritious and full of antibodies that help protect the baby against infections. 
3. Exclusively breastfeed newborn babies during the first six months of life – meaning only breastmilk and no other liquids or solids, not even water, except prescribed medicine. This not only boosts their health, but also ensures their optimal development. After six months when the baby can eat some foods, mothers should continue breastfeeding their babies until two years and beyond.
4. Breastfeeding the baby frequently ensures production of more milk. Breastfeed the baby at least eight times daily, day and night, and on demand. Ensure the baby is in a good position and is well attached to the breast, with the larger part of the areola (breast) well in his/her mouth. Holding the baby in a good position makes it easier for the baby to take the breast well into the mouth and suckle and makes breastfeeding easier and enjoyable for the mother as well.
5. Breastmilk is the baby’s first immunization. Breastfeeding helps protect babies and young children against dangerous illnesses such as diarrhoea, ear and chest infections, among other health problems. The protection is greatest when breastmilk alone is given for the first six months and when breastfeeding continues along with other nutritious foods well into the second year and beyond. No other milks, foods or supplements can provide the protection of breastmilk.
6. Women working away from home can also continue to breastfeed their children. As such, breastfeed your baby as often as possible when you are with your baby and express breastmilk when you are apart so that another caregiver can feed it to your baby in a clean and safe way. The expressed milk should be refrigerated or stored at room temperature for up to eight hours in a clean, covered container. The caregiver should use a clean cup and spoon to feed the baby the expressed milk. 
7. Breastfeeding is a shared responsibility between the mother, spouse, caretaker, employers and the community at large. Employers should support breastfeeding mothers by putting in place policies that support breastfeeding such as paid maternity leave, spaces for breastfeeding at the workplace, flexible work arrangements, among other.
8. All women living with HIV should receive counselling on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six completed months of the infant’s life and establish the HIV exposure status of those infants with unknown status.

Breastfeeding and COVID-19
The five things you should know

It is natural for new and expecting mothers to have questions about breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zakaria Fusheini, Nutrition Manager, UNICEF Uganda shares five critical facts mothers and caretakers should know and learn about COVID-19 and breastfeeding.