The World Breastfeeding Week is being celebrated during the first week of August every year.
This year the week is celebrated with the theme ‘Step up for Breastfeeding; Educate and Support’. The week is an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of all stakeholders’ actions on protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding across different levels of society. There are some people who look at breastfeeding as a thing of the past that our mothers used to do, but it is an act that should be carried on and shouldn’t be stopped as a result of societal trends and fashion.
READ ALSO: BBNaija: Hermes Sees Me As A Threat – KhalidSome ladies have stated that they do not want to breastfeed because it affects the elasticity of the boobs, and can make the boobs sag. Breastfeeding is not just good for a newborn but it also aids in their brain development. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond. 
WHO also recommends early and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in and kangaroo mother care which significantly improve neonatal survival and reduce morbidity.
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New mothers should be given support, assistance, directive and instructions for the first few hours when they just give birth to aid them breastfeed their child the right way. It is advised that new moms and their babies stay in the same space for at least 24 hours after they deliver and the baby should be given strictly breast milk.
Benefits Of Breastfeeding
1. Lower risk of breast cancer.
2. Lower risk of ovarian cancer.
3. Lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
4. Less endometriosis.
5. Less osteoporosis with age.
6. Less diabetes.
7. Less hypertension decreases blood pressure.
8. Less cardiovascular disease.
9. Breast milk is the best milk. The nutrients in breast milk are unmatched by any other first food your baby can receive.
10. It boosts baby’s immune system.
11. It balances baby’s belly.
12. Breast milk is easily digestible.
13. Breastfeeding benefits both mother and child
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