Breastfeeding is a celebration of one wonderful aspect of motherhood. In order to empower parents to opt for breastfeeding, promotion and support are paramount.
Making known the benefits and tips of breastfeeding is a great way of garnering support. Below are the 5 facts about breastfeeding.1
- Breastfeeding mothers with flu can actually provide their babies with antibodies that help them fight sickness. Just remember to practice strict hygiene.
- Breastfeeding helps develop the baby’s brain. This difference may be due to the physical intimacy, touch and eye contact associated with breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding mothers are less prone to postpartum depression. It's known that breastfeeding causes hormonal changes, one of them is the increased amount of oxytocin produced, which have long-term anti-anxiety effects.
- Mothers often debate how long to breastfeed their children. While WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the baby’s first six months, breastfeeding for over a year is linked to lower risks of some diseases for the mother, including breast and ovarian cancer.
- Pumping between feedings can help mothers increase breast milk production. Try pumping whenever you have milk left over after a feeding, or your baby has missed a feeding.2
Back in 1981, only a mere 19% of Hong Kong mothers were breastfeeding their babies, partly due to the aggressive marketing efforts by formula manufacturers. Today, the breastfeeding rate in Hong Kong has risen to 87%. 3
Thanks to the dozens of restaurants and organizations that are now providing breastfeeding-friendly facilities, breastfeeding mothers can gain the support they have always needed to offer the best nutrition to their offspring.4
Sources:
- Healthline - 11 Benefits of Breastfeeding for Both Mom and Baby
- Healthline - 5 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Production
- Healthy Matters - Why Do Hong Kong Women Stop Breastfeeding Early?
- SCMP - Hong Kong restaurants say 'yes' to breastfeeding mothers: new measures adopted to give privacy, gain acceptance
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