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Best care of infants Breast milk remains indispensable for babies
Breastmilk is the natural food for infants: easy to digest, hygienically flawless and properly tempered. Unfortunately, many mothers breastfeed their baby way too short. On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, experts inform about the importance of breastmilk for the next generation.
Best nutrition for infants
Breastfeeding is considered to be the best nutrition for a baby, because in breast milk are in optimal composition all the nutrients that the child needs in the first few months of life. The milk is "easy to digest, hygienically flawless and properly tempered," writes the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in a statement. But not all children are breastfed long enough. Under the motto "Support Breastfeeding - Together!", This year's World Breastfeeding Week calls for more support for breastfeeding women in our society.
Breastmilk is the best food for a baby. Still, many mothers breastfeed their children much too soon. On the occasion of the World Breast Week, it calls for more support for breastfeeding women. (Image: stanislav_uvarov / fotolia.com) Health benefits for children and mothers
Scientific research has shown that breastfeeding is positive for the development of the child's immune system. In addition, breastfeeding, according to studies, protect against allergies and reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
It is especially important during the first six months of life. It also helps to prevent diarrhea.
Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer, according to experts. In addition, a study has shown that breastfeeding protects mothers from cardiovascular disease in the long term.
However, although breastfeeding has many health benefits for the development of children, only about forty percent of all babies are breastfed exclusively in the first six months of their lives.
"No country in the world meets the recommended standards for breastfeeding," writes the World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement.
Breastfeeding babies, especially during the first six months of life
In this country too, more needs to be done to make people aware of the importance of breastfeeding. This is what the German Midwives Association points out in its World Breastfeeding Week under the motto "Breastfeeding - Together".
"The demand that more must be done in Germany for the health of women and families, especially in the first months of a child, the possibility to breastfeed," said Martina Klenk, President of the German Midwives Association, in a statement.
"And regardless of whether this happens publicly or in private space."
Unfortunately, women repeatedly report negative experiences after breastfeeding in public.
According to the association, a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) shows that breastfeeding is all the more positively received by the public, the more it knows about the health benefits.
Breastfeeding women need to be valued
A societal climate in which breastfeeding women feel valued and accepted is as important for their breastfeeding as individual, expert support, writes the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in a statement on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week. Breastfeeding as normal is the goal.
The National Breastfeeding Commission at BfR points to two new breastfeeding research projects in Germany.
In the internationally linked project "Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly" (BBF), the current status of breastfeeding in Germany is comprehensively analyzed for the first time. One of the eight fields of action of this project examines the importance of the topic "breastfeeding" in the German media.
In addition to this project, a follow-up project of the nationwide "SuSe" study ("Breastfeeding and Baby Nutrition"), which was carried out 20 years ago by the National Nursing Commission, will be launched.
The large-scale study "SuSe II" collects comprehensive data on the frequency of breastfeeding as well as factors influencing the breastfeeding behavior and nutrition of infants.
How quiet Germany is?
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has commissioned the "Healthy into Life" network and the National Breastfeeding Commission to carry out the project "Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly" (BBF) in cooperation with the University of Yale for Germany.
One expert commission is investigating, among other things, how quiet Germany is. One focus here is the analysis of how German media reports on breastfeeding and to what extent and via which channels celebrities use publicity to promote breastfeeding.
On the basis of the results, the Expert Commission proposes measures to make the social climate in Germany more tranquil.
Furthermore, the follow-up project proposed by the National Breastfeeding Commission recently launched the "SuSe" study conducted in 1997/1998. "SuSe II" should show if and how breastfeeding behavior and infant nutrition in Germany have developed since then.
For this purpose, about 170 maternity hospitals and 1,500 mothers are interviewed. The two-year study is being conducted by the Research Unit for Child Nutrition (FKE) of the University Children's Hospital Bochum and funded by the BMEL.
The client is the German Nutrition Society (DGE). The research results are the basis for health and nutritional measures and are intended to facilitate practical, professional advice for young families on breastfeeding and baby feeding. (Ad)