American mothers encounter many obstacles to successful breastfeeding, including hospital practices that make it hard to get started, lack of experience and family support, and a lack of accommodation to breastfeed or express milk in the workplace.
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Janet continued, “For many mums we know getting started isn’t easy and that’s why support is crucial”.
The Tennessee Breastfeeding Hotline is a resource to assist nursing mothers and families. Some of the groups are organised by public health nurses, while others are organised by trained breastfeeding support volunteers, all who have breastfed or are still breastfeeding mums.
The Tennessee Department of Health also promotes breastfeeding through the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program and the local county health departments’ Designated Breastfeeding Expert services for their communities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated: ‘There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer’. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child’s health and survival. Studies have proven that breastfed children have six times the chances of survival than non-breastfed children. Newborn deaths still represent half of all child deaths under age 5, and immediate breastfeeding would greatly reduce that number. It can reduce the chance of diabetes and heart disease later in life, read the joint statement.
This week, as we mark Global Breastfeeding Week, we should all recognise the great benefits of breastfeeding in successfully achieving two key global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG5, good health and wellbeing for all and SDG1, reducing poverty.
This goal also sets a target for early childhood development, identifying it as a crucial path to all sustainable development. “In this way, breastfeeding allows all children to thrive and develop to their full potential”, UNICEF said.
It is associated with higher cognitive ability, increased I.Q. scores and better learning and literacy outcomes – all of which can translate into increased productivity and earnings later in life.
Breastfeeding saves money. Medical care costs are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants. Breastfeeding is the best way to provide ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants. The physical interaction between mother and baby induces oxytocin, a hormone that helps milk flow and creates a calming effect.
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“This support is available for women up to six weeks post-birth”.
