母乳喂养:救救我们的孩子
原创 2018-04-18 世卫组织 世界卫生组织
你知道吗?母乳喂养是帮助孩子开启尽可能健康的生命旅程的最佳方法之一。事实上,在两岁之前对所有婴儿进行母乳喂养能避免营养不良,而且每年能挽救逾82万名5岁以下儿童的生命!
母乳喂养能保护新生儿免于传染病,持续母乳喂养帮助婴幼儿预防腹泻等传染病。
那么,母乳喂养有什么益处?
中国母乳喂养的情况如何?
坦白地说,情况并不好!
截止到2014年,中国仅有20.8%的0-6月龄婴儿是纯母乳喂养,显著低于38%的全球平均水平。
此外,新手妈妈被不鼓励母乳喂养的宣传广告淹没:用于婴儿奶粉市场营销的资金从2001年的1亿美元增加到2012年的35亿美元。
那么我能如何传播母乳喂养的重要性?
扼要重述
总而言之,母乳喂养为孩子提供了抵御疾病、保持健康和茁壮成长的必要工具。请和我们一起努力,挽救生命!
Breastfeeding: Saving our Children
Did you know?
One of the best ways to help children start off their life as healthy as possible is by breastfeeding. In fact, breastfeeding all babies for the first 2 years of their lives would avert malnutrition and save the lives of more than 820,000 children under age 5 each year! Breastfeeding protects new born babies from infections, and continued breastfeeding helps prevent babies from contracting other infections such as diarrhoea.
Wait, what are the benefits of breastfeeding?
Here is what we know:
Breastfeeding improves children’s IQ, and has positive effects on school readiness and attendance
Breastfeeding a child is associated with him or her earning a higher income later in adult life
Breastfeeding reduces mothers’ risk of breast cancer
Breast-milk is your child’s source of energy and nutrients that are essential for fighting illness
Breastfeeding reduces mortality among malnourished children
What is the breastfeeding situation like in China?
Quite frankly, it is not good!
As of 2014, only 20.8% of infants between 0-6 months old in China are exclusively breastfed, significantly lower than the global average of 38%.
Additionally, new mothers are inundated with marketing that discourages breastfeeding: money spent on infant formula marketing increased from US $100 million in 2001 to US $3.5 billion in 2012.
Wow, how can I help spread the word about the importance of breastfeeding?
Here are some practical recommendations:
Discuss the importance of breastfeeding with pregnant women and their families
Support mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding
Do not provide breastfed new-borns any food or fluids besides breast milk, unless medically indicated
Support mothers to recognize and respond to their infants’ cues for feeding
Recap
In sum, breastfeeding equips children with the tools necessary to fight off sickness, to be healthy, and to thrive. Please help us save lives by spreading this message!
Click 'Read more' in below to know more about the new guideline issued by WHO and UNICEF - Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.