KNOW MUCH ABOUT EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING

-



From an article published by United Nations International Children’s Fund, Ghana, (UNICEF Ghana), ‘Delayed breastfeeding increases the risk of newborn deaths by up to 80%’. More so, mixed feeding within the first six months of life also increases the risk of newborn deaths. Meanwhile, ‘children that are exclusively breastfed are 14 times likely to survive the first six months of life than the non-breastfed children’. It is an issue of national interest and public health concern, therefore I deemed it necessary to blog on this topic.

Exclusive breastfeeding means feeding of a baby solely on human breast milk day and night for the first six (6) months of life without adding any other food or water, except prescribed medication.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING TO THE CHILD?
  1. The first breast milk (colostrum) gives the child immunity. The colostrum contains antibodies which protect the newborn from infections of the throat, lungs, and intestines.
  2. About 90%-95% of the breast milk is water (liquid), which keeps the body of the newborn hydrated.
  3. It is a perfect mix and source of vitamins, proteins, carbohydrate, iron, minerals and fats which are always available and in their right proportions.
  4. It contains an adequate nutrient which is needed for the development of the child’s brain.
  5. The breast milk helps develop the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the young baby to later contain and process family foods when they are introduced at the right time.
  6. Exclusive breastfeeding promotes proper development of facial bones and muscles because of the feeding actions required.
  7. Breast milk contains Vitamin A that helps to increase appetite and prevent eye infections.
  8. Exclusive breastfeeding creates bonding between the child and mother.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING TO THE MOTHER AND FAMILY AS A WHOLE?
  1. Exclusive breastfeeding helps the mother’s uterus to evolute to its non-pregnant state.
  2. Exclusive breastfeeding suppresses ovulation, therefore, it acts as family planning to the mother known as Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM).
  3. It saves cost for the family. Practising exclusive breastfeeding saves money because the mother does not need to buy formula foods or pay medical bills when the baby gets diarrhoea
  4. It saves time because the breast milk is readily available and baby can be fed on demand anytime.
In a nutshell, it makes the whole family healthy and also brings joy.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING TO THE NATION?

  1. It reduces mortality and morbidity rate in children in the nation, therefore the productivity of the nation will be high.
  2. There will be no overpopulation since exclusive breastfeeding acts as family planning for the mother, and with less population, more employment for the citizens.
  3. The government will spend less fund in importing formulae feeds into the nation, therefore there will be more funds available for the development of other sectors in the nation.
  4. Majority of the children in the nation will have well-developed brains and can lead the country in the future.


I HOPE YOU TOOK TIME TO READ THIS BLOG AND I KNOW YOU HAVE LEARNT A LOT. JUST FOLLOW ME AND SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOGS. YOU CAN ALSO HELP US WITH SOME DONATIONS. THANK YOU.

REFERENCES

Exclusive Breast Feeding. (2016, August 20th). Retrieved from UNICEF Ghana: www.unicef.org.ghana/exclusivebreastfeeding
Fraser, D., & Cooper, M. (Eds.). (2009). Myles' Textbook for Midwives (15th ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Offei, V. (2014). Principles of Community Health Nursing Practice and Disease Prevention (2nd ed., Vol. 2). Accra, Ghana: Beap Publication.
Offei, V. (2014). Principles of Community Health Nursing Practice and Disease Prevention (Vol. 1). Accra, Ghana: Adonai Publications.
Oxford Mini Dictionary (7th ed.). (2008). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Brain Drain of Nurses in Ghana: An Examination of Causes, Effects, and Potential Solutions

-
Image
Introduction The brain drain phenomenon, specifically the migration of skilled healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, from Ghana to other countries, poses significant challenges to the Ghanaian healthcare system. This article aims to explore the causes, effects, and potential solutions to the brain drain of nurses in Ghana. Causes of the Brain Drain of Nurses in Ghana Several factors contribute to the brain drain of nurses in Ghana.  Firstly, insufficient investment in the healthcare sector, resulting in inadequate infrastructure, insufficient supplies, and low salaries, pushes nurses to seek better opportunities abroad (Dovlo, 2007).  Secondly, the lack of professional development and career advancement prospects in the Ghanaian healthcare system further encourage nurses to pursue careers in developed countries (Asamani et al., 2020).  Thirdly, political instability, corruption, and inadequate social support systems exacerbate the desire to leave the country for ...
Read more

MR. JONAS DOOGU, A LEGACY HE LEFT!!!

-
Image
Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization. Leadership involves making a sound -- and sometimes difficult -- decisions, creating and articulating a clear vision, establishing achievable goals and providing followers with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve those goals. This young man has shown high standards of leadership skills from one district to another. It was not that different from what he has accomplished in North-Dayi. There are leaders and there are leaders. He is a leader of leaders, that is what most nurses think about him in North-Dayi. His unit, Disease Control Unit (DCU) North-Dayi has done very well in terms of Public Health under his leadership. As an effective leader, he possesses the following characteristics: self-confidence, strong communication and management skills, creative and innovative thinking, perseverance in the face of failure, willingn...
Read more

CERVICAL CANCER IS VERY DEADLY!!!

-
Image
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix to the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Another school of thought also defined  cervical cancer  as when the cells of the cervix grow abnormally and invade other tissues and organs of the body. Women of all ages  are at risk of cervical cancer.  In the United States, an estimated  13,000 women were diagnosed  with invasive cervical cancer in 2016 and more than  4,000 women will die as a result of this diagnosis. This vital information was part of a document published by the National Foundation for Cancer Research (USA) in the year 2018. Signs and Symptoms Early-stage cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms of more-advanced cervical cancer include: abnormal bleeding, such as bleeding between menstrual periods, after sex, after a pelvic exam, or after menopause discharge that’s unusua...
Read more

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *