World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7

 

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is an annual celebration which is being held every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries

World Breastfeeding Week was first celebrated in 1992 by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action(WABA)and is now observed in over 120 countries by UNICEF,WHO and their partners including individuals, organizations, and governments. WABA itself have been formed in 14 February 1991 with the goal to re-establish a global breastfeeding culture and provide support for breastfeeding everywhere

Breastfeeding is the best way to give newborns the nutrients they need. Breast milk is highly nutritious with easy-to-digest proteins and natural immunities that protect babies against disease and infection. Colostrum, the milk that mothers produce in the first days after birth, is not only dense in nutrients, but is also rich in antibodies that protect babies from bacteria and viruses that cause infection.

While the short-term benefits of breastfeeding have been well-established, some studies also show long-term benefits, and research in this area is ongoing. Although we still have much to learn about the long-term effects of breastfeeding, there is good evidence that people who were breastfed perform better on intelligence tests and that breastfeeding offers some protection against breast and ovarian cancer in mothers. There is also some evidence that breastfeeding may reduce the likelihood of developing type-2 diabetes; lead to lower blood pressure and cholesterol; and reduce the risk of being overweight or obese by 12%.