Seven reasons why breastfeeding matters

On 5 August, East Tallinn Central Hospital organised a lovely family picnic to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. The purpose of the event was to introduce breastfeeding and share an international message on the importance of breastfeeding in solving a number of environmental and climate change issues.

About 20 families currently breastfeeding attended the event. In addition to mothers and small children, fathers and older children came to the event. East Tallinn Central Hospital Breastfeeding Councillors carried out games themed around breastfeeding ad gave advice on how to breastfeed. Physiotherapist Triin Jeršov spoke to mothers on how to recover their bodies after birth and showed exercises that anyone can do at home.

There are several reasons for breastfeeding children. East Tallinn Central Hospital Midwife-Breastfeeding Councillor Helena Kirst highlights seven interesting facts that make breastfeeding so important for the mother, the child and a healthy planet:

  1. Breast milk is natural. It is eco-friendly as it is produced and used without causing pollution, needing packaging or producing waste. For example, feeding one million children with artificial formula for a period of two years will produce about 150 million tons of formula cans.
  2. Breast milk is like a natural panacea. There is no need for costly medicinal products and supplements because breast milk already contains everything a child needs.
  3. Breastfeeding protects the health of mothers and children as well as the entire planet. Breastfeeding mothers are less at risk of getting breast and cervical cancer, hypertension, or diabetes or becoming obese. Children are protected from infectious diseases. They are also less likely to become diabetic later in life. Children who are given breast milk have a smaller chance of becoming overweight and are also more intelligent.
  4. Countries where breastfeeding is more prominent have fewer health care costs – people’s overall health is better and there is less need for treatment. By increasing the number of breastfeeding women, we can prevent the death 823,000 children under 5 years old and the death of about 20,000 women due to breast cancer.
  5. Breastfeeding helps fight poverty by protecting the most vulnerable children and their families, including in situations where food is less readily available. Breast milk is available and free for all children.
  6. Breastfeeding helps reduce pollution because there is no need to  transport it, so it does not result in harmful emissions from vehicles.
  7.  Breastfeeding reduces pollution indoors because no fuel is required to produce milk formula/solutions and washing utensils.

Promoting and supporting breastfeeding is a current affair. East Tallinn Central Hospital Women’s Clinic started providing breastfeeding advice 18 years ago and has seen the need for assistance go up. Families who see a councillor sometimes work with specialists for months on end to reach their breastfeeding goals.

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