The composition of breastmilk is ideal for infant growth. It contains everything the baby needs from birth and evolves by adapting to its growth over the weeks and even during the feeding.
Also, breast milk immunize the newborn against many diseases. It would thus reduce the risk of infections thanks to the antibodies that the mother transmits to it, it would help limit the risk of allergies in children, especially in those with family predispositions. Finally, it would help reduce the risk of diabetes or obesity.
Breast milk would save more than 1 million children
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if every child was exclusively breastfed for at least 6 months (and breastfeeding, maintained until the age of 2), more than one million child lives would be saved around the world every year.
75% of women want to breastfeed
In France, 75% of women want to breastfeed according to the National Institute for Prevention and Education for Health (Inpes) but in the end, breastfeeding is rather short-lived.
However, this practice also brings benefits for the mother. For example, it reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer at an older age, as well as the risk of developing diabetes and postpartum depression.
By 6 months of age, 19% of babies are still breastfeeding
The last ELFE study published by the National Institute for Sanitary Surveillance (Invs) in its Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH) of September 30, revealed that the average duration of mixed breastfeeding (breast and bottles) in France was 17 weeks and at 7 weeks in case of exclusive breastfeeding.
At the age of 6 months, only 19% of babies were still receiving formula in France. And in 2014, less than 40% of infants were exclusively breastfed before the age of 6 months worldwide.
Returning to work often rhymes with the end of breastfeeding
Several factors explain why breastfeeding is non-existent, stopped or of such short duration. According to the BEH, these mothers are under 30, live alone or have a low level of education. They may also be smokers, overweight or have returned to work at least 10 weeks after giving birth.
The influence of returning to work after birth plays a determining role in the low rate of breastfeeding. However, the French Labor Code provides for an hour of unpaid daily break during the baby’s first year, generally divided up for breastfeeding mothers. Also, any business with more than 100 women must make a breastfeeding room available to mothers.
90% of breastfeeding women in Switzerland and Denmark
Despite everything, France remains one of the countries in Europe where this rate is the lowest, along with Italy and Ireland. It reaches more than 80% in the Scandinavian countries, in particular in Sweden (84%), and is even higher than 90% in Switzerland, Spain, Denmark and Romania.
Registered and strongly encouraged in the national health nutrition program (PNNS), thebreastfeeding is recognized as a fundamental right of the child by UNICEF and WHO.
Read also :
– Breastfeeding: some techniques to make it easier
– Breastfeeding would reduce the risk of leukemia
