GHANA: Last week we blogged on the exclusive breastfeeding program in Ghana. As a result of this program parents were witnessing to the fact that breastfeeding prevented them from getting pregnant early. Based on research we know that exclusive breastfeeding (nothing but mother’s milk) is insufficient by itself for significant birth spacing. It is obvious that these mothers were engaged in high frequency nursing day and night because frequency is the key. See note on birth spacing below.
Thus the Ghana Health Service in the Northern Region claimed that exclusive breastfeeding delays pregnancy for about one year, thereby providing a desirable birth spacing for the mothers.
The Ghana Health Service mentioned many benefits of exclusive breastfeeding besides the spacing: reduces breastfeeding problems; protects babies from diarrhea, common colds, cough and pneumonia; helps the brain development of the baby; increases the child’s intelligence; creates a special love and bonding between mother and baby which makes the baby emotionally stable; returns the womb to its normal position; and enables the mother to regain her pre-pregnancy shape.
The Regional Nutrition Officer, Mr. Sofo Mutaru, wants everyone to promote the good news about exclusive breastfeeding through all social networks. Why? Because “breastfeeding is a biological function and public health issue.”
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NIGERIA: The National Assembly have been asked to legislate on the “Exclusive Breastfeeding Bill” mandating 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding to save babies’ lives and to allow six months maternity leave. Part of the bill allows for a tax rebate which will pay for half of the mother’s salary while on leave and to allow for easy access to her baby when working.
Dr. Oscar Odiboh, the founder and president of AFRIBABY, said “unless the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers is encouraged, Nigeria risks losing more babies to infant related ailments.”
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THAILAND: Plan International, a global child rights organization, said: “Babies affected by the severe flooding in Thailand and fed with infant formula face a high risk of infections and diarrhoea caused by contaminated or unsafe water used to clean milk bottles or make baby feed.” Director Sunan Samrianrum said: “Every effort should be made to promote breastfeeding especially in emergencies to save the lives of children.” Even those mothers who stopped breastfeeding should start breastfeeding again to protect their babies from the risk of disease and death.
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BIRTH SPACING: We encourage anyone who has any influence with new mothers, no matter what country, to encourage them to exclusively breastfeed. Also please give them the option to ecologically breastfeeding for birth spacing. Anyone who is interested in birth spacing should read The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor.
Sheila Kippley