Take breast milk immediately after birth, life insurance
Starting breastfeeding in the first hour of life reduces the risk of disease and death. Even so, millions of babies lose their benefits because mothers do not receive support in hospitals and because of the increase in cesarean sections by choice
A baby has just been born. His mother hugs him and puts him to his chest. That moment, which for a mother is unforgettable, the baby will not remember, but it can mark his life. Children who do not drink breast milk in the first hour of life are more at risk of contracting diseases and even dying, according to a new study by UNICEF and the World Health Organization .
"When it comes to initiating breastfeeding, it is essential to do it on time. In many countries, it can become a matter of life and death, "said Henrietta H. Fore , Executive Director of UNICEF. "Even so, every year, millions of newborns miss the benefits of early breastfeeding."
The Capture the Moment study estimates that three out of five babies, 78 million, do not drink breast milk in the first hour of life.
The more time passes without the baby sucking, the more the risk increases. The report, which has analyzed 130,000 newborns, showed that those who took the breast between two and 23 hours after birth had a 33 percent greater chance of dying , compared with those who started breastfeeding in the first hour of life . For those who started a day or more after birth, the danger more than doubled .
Children also have more risks of getting infections.
Babies can suck from the first moment. They have a suction reflex and can swallow. In addition, skin-to-skin contact helps them regulate their body temperature and allows their bodies to acquire beneficial bacteria from the mother's skin that protect them from infections and help them strengthen the immune system. Suction favors the release of prolactin in the mother, a hormone that stimulates milk production. In the first few days, the woman's body produces colostrum, which is rich in nutrients and antibodies and acts as the "first vaccine" of the baby.
According to the report, the highest rates of breastfeeding in the first hour after delivery are recorded in Eastern and Southern Africa (65%), while the lowest rates are found in East Asia and the Pacific (32%). In Latin America, the rate reaches 52%. However, the report does not have data from either North America (United States and Canada) or Western Europe.
Without support for breastfeeding
If the benefits are so clear, why do not millions of children receive them ? "The mothers simply do not have enough help to breastfeed in those crucial minutes after birth, not even by the medical staff of the health centers," says the director of UNICEF.
Although it may seem intuitive, women need to learn how to position and breastfeed.
"We urgently need to extend aid to mothers, whether by family members, health workers, employees or governments, so that they can provide the children with the start they deserve," says Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. , Director General of WHO.
