World Breastfeeding Week 2024: Theme, History, Significance, Benefits and Homoeopathic Remedies to Increase Breast Milk
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually from August 1 to August 7. This global campaign aims to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. It is organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
Every year, from August 1 to August 7, people worldwide observe World Breastfeeding Week. This international effort strives to increase public awareness of breastfeeding and its benefits. The campaign became crucial as infant mortality rates increased as a result of fewer women wanting to nurse their children. Know all about World Breastfeeding Week 2024, Theme, History, and Significance here.
World Breastfeeding Week 2024
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes related to breastfeeding. It is celebrated from 1 August to 7 August every year. The campaign not only highlights the benefits of breastfeeding but also advocates for and defends women’s rights to breastfeed their babies anytime and anywhere.
World Breastfeeding Week 2024
Dates- August 1 – 7, 2024
Purpose- Raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and support for breastfeeding mothers.
History- Celebrated annually since 1992, in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration.
Alignment- Since 2016, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2018.
Objectives-
Inform about the theme.
Anchor the theme within the global breastfeeding agenda.
Engage individuals and organisations.
Galvanise action on the theme and related issues.
Benefits of Breastfeeding Provides essential nutrients, enzymes, and antibodies for babies. Enhances mother-child bonding. Accelerates postpartum recovery. Reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
Theme for 2024- “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”
The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2024 is “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.” This theme focuses on recognizing and supporting breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity and breastfeeding journeys. It emphasises the need for families, communities, societies, and healthcare professionals to work together to ensure that all breastfeeding mothers receive the support they need.
One of the biggest cooperative initiatives run by international groups like UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) is World Breastfeeding Week. Another objective of the World Alliance for Nursing Action (WABA) is to inform women about the advantages of nursing. Since its inception in 1992, World Breastfeeding Week has had a different theme each year. In 2016, the week began promoting breastfeeding to more women by coordinating its goals with the Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.G.s).
World Breastfeeding Week Significance
The purpose of World Nursing Week is to raise awareness of the benefits of nursing to provide babies with the best nourishment and immunity.
Breast milk not only gives babies all the nutrients they require, but it also provides essential elements like enzymes and antibodies that protect young patients from infections and illnesses.
Breastfeeding also improves the mother-child relationship, quickens the healing process after giving birth, and reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
Throughout the week, there are international gatherings, talks, and workshops planned to address the challenges women experience and raise awareness of the advantages of breastfeeding….
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby
Research suggests that breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of certain diseases and helps build a strong immune system. Breastfed (chestfed) babies have a lower risk of:
- Diarrhoea, vomiting and preterm necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
- Respiratory infections like pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)and whooping cough.
- Ear infections.
- Bacterial meningitis.
- Asthma.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infant mortality.
- Childhood obesity.
- Eczema.
- Type 2 diabetes later in life.
- Leukemia (in childhood).
- Cavities and future orthodontic problems for babies less than one year of age.
- Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Studies show that breastfed infants have a lower hospitalisation rate and tend to be in better health. This leads to fewer visits to their paediatrician for sicknesses.
Your breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your baby. In the first few days after birth, your breasts produce a nutrient-rich fluid called colostrum.
Colostrum contains your white blood cells (leukocytes), which produce antibodies (immunoglobulin A) that can defend against infections. When your baby consumes the milk, they get these antibodies, which can strengthen their immune system.
Colostrum is rich in proteins and has low fat and sugar content. This includes proteins like lactoferrin, which has a protective action against infections, and epidermal growth factor, which promotes cell growth.
It also contains several important vitamins, like vitamin A, and minerals like magnesium, copper, and zinc. Vitamin A is necessary for your baby’s vision, immunity, and skin health. Magnesium is essential for your baby’s heart and bone development.
Does breastfeeding help you lose weight?
Breastfeeding may make it easier for you to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy. Breastfeeding burns calories, which can help with weight loss.
But not everyone loses weight from breastfeeding. Researchers aren’t entirely sure why some people lose weight while breastfeeding and others don’t. Several other factors contribute to weight loss/gain, like calorie consumption, physical activity and sleep quality.
Nutritional Benefits of Breast Milk
Breast milk contains everything your baby needs to grow and develop. It provides a unique and specific formula of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Breast milk supports your baby’s health because it:
- Is easy for their immature tummy and intestines to digest.
- Contains antibodies that protect against infection and boost immunity.
- Has the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein and vitamins for your baby’s development.
- Promotes healthy weight gain.
- Changes in composition to meet your baby’s nutritional needs over time.
- Contains substances that naturally soothe your baby.
Most healthcare organizations recommend exclusively breastfeeding your baby for at least six months. Once your baby is old enough for solid food, you can introduce foods and continue with breastfeeding for up to two years or longer.
It’s worth noting that if you exclusively pump, your baby is still getting the nutritional and health benefits of breastmilk.
Components of breast milk
There are many components of breast milk that meet your baby’s needs. These include:
- Carbohydrates, such as lactose, which support a healthy balance of bacteria in your baby’s stomach.
- Fats that help your baby’s brain and nervous system develop.
- Proteins, like lactoferrin and secretory IgA, that protect your baby from infections.
- Vitamins that support your baby’s growth.
- White blood cells that help fight infection.
Homeopathic Medicines to Promote Milk Secretion during Breastfeeding
Homeopathy is often used to increase the production of breast milk. This form of medication has negligible side effects and hence is ideal for a new mother. Some of the most recommended homeopathic medicines for increasing mother’s milk.
- Asafoetida: When mother’s breasts are turgid with milk in the unimpregnated. Deficient in milk, with oversensitiveness.
- Lac defloratum ─Decrease in size of breasts.─(Has never failed to bring back the milk in from twelve to twenty-four hours.).─Diminished secretion of milk.
- Pulsatilla: An effective homeopathic remedies prescribed in cases where the flow of milk is completely absent or scanty in mother breast. The mother may also complain of swollen breasts that are painful to touch. She may also suffer from depression and have an urge to cry frequently.
- Ricinus communis: This homeopathic remedy helps increase the production and flow of breast milk in nursing women. This medication is usually prescribed in a low potency for such a condition.
- Galega Officinalis: The name of the homoeopathic medicine itself is derived from the word ‘gala’ meaning milk. In low dosage, this medicine can be used to increase the production and flow of breast milk for nursing mothers.
- Ignatia: Ignatia is often prescribed to treat sensitive women who may be experiencing shock or even grief after childbirth. This effective homeopathic medicine helps regulate lactation and increase the flow of breast milk. Such women often express an aversion to cold, tobacco, alcohol, and strong odours.
- Calcarea Phosphorica: A scant production of breast milk accompanied by frequent headaches, heartburn, and rheumatic pain can be treated with homeopathy remedy Calcarea phosphorica. It also helps deal with the shock that may be caused by childbirth. Women who benefit from this medicine often feel worse when exposed to cold or damp conditions.
Reference
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15274-benefits-of-breastfeeding
- https://www.studyiq.com/articles/world-breastfeeding-week/
