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01/08/2018
More Mothers In NI Choose To Breastfeed
More mothers in Northern Ireland are choosing to breastfeed, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA).
World Breastfeeding Week, which started today, 01 August and runs until Monday, 07 August, is highlighting the health benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and child.
Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement at the PHA, said: "Quite simply, mother's milk is the healthier choice for you and your baby. So when you decide to breastfeed, you're giving your baby a wonderful start in life.
"Any breastfeeding, even for a short time, is beneficial for you and your baby. Breastfeeding can help protect babies against a wide range of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy as well as asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life. Breastfeeding also helps to create a close bond between mother and child. We also know that breastfeeding can reduce the mother's risk of developing some cancers.
"Breastmilk contains at least 34 ingredients not found in infant formula and there's now a large amount of research that shows beyond doubt that breastfeeding benefits your baby in many ways, and the benefits last into childhood and beyond.
"The greatest benefits are to be gained by feeding your baby breastmilk and nothing else for the first six months of life, and then continuing to breastfeed after your baby starts taking solid food. But any period of breastfeeding at all, however short, will benefit you and your baby."
(CD/LM)
World Breastfeeding Week, which started today, 01 August and runs until Monday, 07 August, is highlighting the health benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and child.
Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement at the PHA, said: "Quite simply, mother's milk is the healthier choice for you and your baby. So when you decide to breastfeed, you're giving your baby a wonderful start in life.
"Any breastfeeding, even for a short time, is beneficial for you and your baby. Breastfeeding can help protect babies against a wide range of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy as well as asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life. Breastfeeding also helps to create a close bond between mother and child. We also know that breastfeeding can reduce the mother's risk of developing some cancers.
"Breastmilk contains at least 34 ingredients not found in infant formula and there's now a large amount of research that shows beyond doubt that breastfeeding benefits your baby in many ways, and the benefits last into childhood and beyond.
"The greatest benefits are to be gained by feeding your baby breastmilk and nothing else for the first six months of life, and then continuing to breastfeed after your baby starts taking solid food. But any period of breastfeeding at all, however short, will benefit you and your baby."
(CD/LM)
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