World Breast Week Breastfeeding - talk about it!

International World Breast Week with the motto: „Breastfeeding - talk about it!“

04.10.2011

Today the international World Breast Week begins. The motto of this year's action week is: „Breastfeeding, talk about it!“ Several events and campaigns clarify the high value of breastfeeding.

The World Breast Week was first published by the „World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action“ organized. It is the largest worldwide campaign promoting the active breastfeeding of infants. The best-known organizations that are part of the Action Week are the World Health Organization WHO and UNICEF. Silent promotion activities are carried out in more than 120 countries worldwide. In this country, the World Breast Week is held every year in the 40th calendar week. Information events, performances and online campaigns are taking place in all major cities.

Positive health effects for the child
The Action Week is about communicating the benefits of breastfeeding to the child's health. The most important argument for breastfeeding compared to artificial baby food is protection against infectious diseases. Several scientific studies have found that breastfed babies have up to 60 percent greater protection against infection. A US study from 2004 found during a meta-study that breastfeeding significantly reduced infant mortality. Not only during breastfeeding but also long afterwards, numerous positive effects on health were shown. In a long-term Spanish study, researchers found that breastfed infants are less likely to get sick later in life.

Responsible for the health-promoting effects are the extremely valuable nutrient compositions of human breast milk. Breastfeeding gives the child antibodies and immune cells of the maternal immune system. Especially the foremilk, which is formed immediately after birth during the first 18 to 36 hours, contains a high proportion of antibodies and is therefore fundamentally important for the protection against illnesses of the child. Even mothers benefit from breastfeeding. Some studies indicate that breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer. Elisabeth Pott, head of the Federal Center for Health Education explained.

Talk about breastfeeding
The motto of this year's action week „Breastfeeding - talk about it!“ should encourage mothers to talk about breastfeeding in their social environment. The family, friends, children and relatives should participate in the experiences and pass on their wealth of experience afterwards. „Breastfeeding mothers can exchange ideas in a variety of situations, whether it be about beautiful moments of breastfeeding, difficult conditions, solutions or accompanying circumstances, whether in a nursing home, on the Internet, privately or accidentally“ As a spokeswoman of the Working Group Free Nursing Groups e.V. explained the motto. Pregnant women often seek conversation themselves to learn about breastfeeding. Mothers who breastfeed should therefore carry on their experiences.

Around 80 percent of all mothers breastfeed after childbirth. After just over six months, only 50 percent of mothers still breastfeed. As can be seen from the numbers, many mothers give up breastfeeding prematurely. Often a lack of knowledge about the value of breastfeeding, too little support of the family, the fear of a hanging breast or breastfeeding problems are responsible for early weaning. The week of action should contribute to eliminate listed reasons in advance, so that newborns can grow up carefree and breastfed. (Sb)

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