Introduction:
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in more than 170 countries around the world. It is an international occasion to protect, promote and support breastfeeding anywhere and anytime.
Key Facts:
- Your body prepares itself for breastfeeding during pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract back to its pre-pregnancy size more quickly.
- Breastfeeding may help you to lose weight after child birth.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in moms.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ear infections, stomach problems and diarrhea in infants.
- Babies who are not breastfed have a higher risk of some chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and childhood obesity.
- Breastfeeding allows mother to introduce different foods in her breast milk for 4-6 months old infant who will accept different flavors later in life.
- Formula milk does not provide the same protection against diseases, nor does it offer any health benefits for mothers.
- Breastfeeding can save families formula-related expenses.
Objectives of the World Breastfeeding Week:
To educate mothers and raise their awareness about the importance of breastfeeding.
To support working women and provide them with flexible time for breastfeeding.
To increase breastfeeding rates and reduce child disease rates.
To highlight the importance of supporting mothers to sustain breastfeeding.
To encourage the breastfeeding advocates to be trained to provide support to mothers and babies.
Official Date:
Globally: August 1st-7th, 2017
Locally: Dhul-Qa'dah 9th-15th, 1438H
Theme of the World Breastfeeding Week:
Sustaining Breastfeeding – Together
Target Groups:
- Breastfeeding mothers.
- Pregnant women.
- Women planning to get married.
- Medical staff including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health educators and others.
- Educational staff including teachers, social workers and others.
- Health decision makers.
- Medical organizations and bodies.
- The public.
References:
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