The World Health Organisation has declared the month of August as National Breastfeeding Month. For many new mothers, supplementing breastmilk with other solid foods and water seems like the ultimate relief; however, this does not support the healthy growth and development of newborns. According to experts, giving water and other homemade preparations to newborn babies, are traditional practises which should be reconsidered.

World Breastfeeding Week

Two-thirds of people in Africa cannot afford a healthy diet, what can be done about it, and what the costs are when you can’t afford healthy food. Thinking about nutrition, we need to examine how paid leave can support exclusive breastfeeding. For World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7, we need to reiterate early initiation of breastmilk to babies in the first hour after birth followed by exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

Benefits

The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child are enormous. The benefits continue even after the child has grown to be a toddler or teenager. Giving newborns extra water can actually be harmful. Unless a doctor says otherwise, your breast milk is more than enough. Nursing your baby does not ruin your body. It is something your body was made to do.

Myths

Breastfeeding is beautiful, natural, and powerful, but let’s be honest, it’s also surrounded by a cloud of myths, especially for African women. Myths like breastfeeding makes your breasts sag and that only poor women breastfeed should be demystified. Other myths include, sex while breastfeeding spoils the milk and breastfeeding makes a woman less attractive. These are all myths to stop the mother from breastfeeding exclusively.

The way forward

Whether you are going back to work or school, your baby can still benefit from your breast milk. You can express breast milk and leave it with your caregiver for your baby to feed. Breast milk can be frozen and used later. If you have childcare at work, school, or nearby, you can breastfeed during your breaks. The Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and partners should keep launching capacity-building programmes to help sensitise newborn mothers on this all-important discourse.