The Lifeline
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​Every Drop of Breastmilk Counts
by: Allianagwen Dela Peña
Are you aware that exclusively breastfeeding a child for the first six months of their existence can be helpful to them? And continuing to breastfeed even after a child has been introduced to solid food after six months, up to two years old, and beyond can have many advantages for both the child and the mother.
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The most healthy and nutritious food one can give their infant is breastmilk since it contains antibodies that guard against various pediatric ailments. Continued breastfeeding can help a baby develop healthy antibodies, promote protection, and strengthen their immunity, which can help them battle the illnesses and disorders they may encounter in their environment as they grow older. However, even with the benefits, the global breastfeeding rate has increased very little in the past two decades while sales of formula milk have doubled. In the Philippines, the exclusive breastfeeding rate remains slow at 34%, and the early initiation of breastfeeding is only 57%. So, the World Health Organization has set a target to increase exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50% by 2025.
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Breastfeeding has many advantages and is a safe and the least expensive way to feed your baby because it already contains the nutrients a baby needs to have a strengthened immune system. Breastfeeding can also be advantageous to the mother because it lowers the mother's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer as well as high blood pressure. If a woman passes away after giving birth because of complications, the father can continue to provide the baby breast milk by joining groups or organizations of other parents or by visiting lactation clinics where people donate their extra milk to newborns in need.
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Even though August is the Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we must continue paying attention to government campaign programs beyond the month's 31 days. According to the WHO, undernutrition is thought to be a contributing factor in about 2.7 million deaths annually or 45% of all child fatalities. The husband's encouraging love is one of the most important factors in a woman's decision to breastfeed. It's critical to inform parents who are uninformed of the advantages of breastfeeding to reduce the rising infant mortality rate in the Philippines. To encourage a child's healthy growth and development, nursing is an effective method. A healthy baby leads to a happy family.