Breastfeeding: The Best Start in Life

For generations, breast milk has proven to be the most suitable and nutritious natural food source. With a powerful emotional and affective connection for the health, development, and well-being of babies.

Every year, the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week—from August 1st to 7th—. It calls for the continued creation of favorable conditions. So that every mother can breastfeed with the certainty that this practice has demonstrated its effectiveness in infant nutrition for centuries. Regardless of socioeconomic, cultural, and dietary conditions.

Breastfeeding is an act of love that implies responsibility, time, practice, dedication, knowledge, and psychological preparation. Especially for adolescent and young mothers who have not yet completed their biological and social maturation. And of course, the social environment and home stability are also essential. Because family, personal, work, and cultural factors can contribute to a successful experience or lead to early abandonment.

The decision to breastfeed is also influenced by health promotion efforts. Also the necessary information about the advantages of this type of nutrition. Which is immune-boosting, more digestible, sterilizing, and also more economical.

Although the current situation in Cuba is quite adverse, a stress-free and worry-free environment should prevail during breastfeeding. Because these conditions promote greater effectiveness of breast milk. Considered by specialists to be the first vaccine an infant receives. Capable of protecting them from a large number of common infections and diseases during the first year of life. As it provides the digestive proteins, minerals, vitamins, and hormones that babies need.

It is also important to highlight its benefits in protecting against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and in preventing childhood obesity and leukemia.

Experts on this topic recommend exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age. And continued breastfeeding with appropriate and safe complementary feeding until two years of age or beyond.

According to medical statistics, breastfeeding women have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Or certain types of cancer, such as breast or ovarian cancer.

The superiority of breast milk over any other food for the nutrition and healthy growth of newborns. It has been well demonstrated in numerous scientific studies and through real-life experience.

Yamila Pupo Otero
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