Child Development and Public Health

Week 2, Blog Assignment

Breastfeeding is on the rise and now mothers of newborn babies are realizing why this is so. Breast milk is complete nutrition and nourishment for your baby. Breast milk provides natural protective antibodies and it can boost a newborns immune system fighting many diseases and infections. Breast milk provides a healthy environment within your baby’s digestive system giving the support of live probiotics which can help aid in the maturation on the immune system. The composition of breast milk adapts to meet the changing needs of your growing baby. Breast milk provides natural fatty acids that play aid in the healthy development of brain and eye development. Breast feeding also provides an ample amount of positive results for the mother as well. Breast feeding helps your body to produce oxytocin and this is a hormone that will make your uterus contract causing it to quickly return to its normal state which reduces the risk of infection or long term problems. Breast feeding will help in reducing your risk of breast cancer or ovarian cancer. Breast feeding also allows you to develop a strong bond between you and your baby that is like no other. Another really great positive aspect of breast feeding helps you to return to your pre pregnancy weight by burning extra calories and lowering fat that is stored.

Breast feeding is really important to me at this time because I am almost 7 months pregnant and I was unable to breast feed my oldest son because of some underlying medical problems that prevented me from successfully completing my task of providing him with the best possible early nutrients possible. My son was diagnosed with childhood asthma at the age of two years old and he is still suffering with many allergy problems today. I hope that by providing my new baby with all the healthy components of breast milk that he will not have any of the same problems as his older brother.

South Africa is one of 12 countries where the infant mortality rate is on the rise. It has one of the lowest levels of exclusive breast feeding as estimated 8%. Children who are not breastfeed are 6 times more likely to die from diarrhea and have a higher chance of respiratory illnesses. Breastfeeding has been scientifically shown to be the number one most important intervention in preventing children’s death in South Africa. The country’s health system is in opposition and are not supporting the practice.

I never realized until I had a child of my own on how important breastfeeding is to the healthy development of a growing baby. Many mothers that I deal with on a day to day basis are also not aware of how important breastfeeding is to a newborn growing baby. It will be a part of my mission to spread the word starting locally within my community and my facility how important starting off your child’s life with healthy practices of breast feeding. It  is very important in the initial healthy start for you and your child.