By Tanvi Chauhan, Manager Health & Nutrition(North), Save the Children
According to National Family Health Survey -4 , in India only 41.6% children under 3 year are breastfed within 1 hour & 54.9 % under age 6 months are exclusively breastfed, Though it’s benefits has been widely recognized for child’s healthy development. In addition to containing all of the vitamins and nutrients baby needs, breast milk also supports baby’s immune system and brain development.
is also a cornerstone for something just as important but something we don’t generally think about—a healthy planet.
In addition our food production systems
and consumption patterns are also significant contributors to it.
Every step taken across our life-cycle to mitigate environmental degradation counts. Breastmilk is the first food that we consume and is a critical part of a sustainable food system.
On the other side feeding with Breastmilk substitutes
from farm-to-table affects the environment and climate due to its production, packaging, distribution and preparation methods. The main ingredient of most Breast Milk Substitutes is cows’ milk.
Dairy farming typically releases substantial amounts of methane and other Green house gases. Feed rations for dairy cows are derived from cereals and soybeans grown with intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers.
This leaves behind another major ecological footprint. to it feeding one million babies with formula for two years requires, on average, approximately 150 million cans of formula. Metal cans, if not recycled, are likely to end up in landfill sites, while plastic, aluminum and paper waste often end up in our oceans.
Contrarily Breastmilk is natural, easily digestible, renewable, and environmentally safe. Breastfeeding for six months after birth requires, on average, an additional 500 kcal of energy a day.
Although breastfeeding may require an additional intake of water depending on factors such as weather and activity levels, there is no evidence of the amount needed beyond meeting physiological requirements.
Direct breastfeeding and hand expression of breastmilk are efficient in terms of reducing waste and saving energy and other resources. Even if using a breast pump to express milk does require additional equipment, most of these are reusable and thus better for the environment compared to formula feeding.
Besides the current challenge of COVID 19 pandemic faced by humanity unreliable supply chains of Breastmilk Substitutes and the unhygienic conditions that commonly prevail in emergency situations make breastfeeding the safest option. Although often there is a lack of support to breastfeed, whether in the health system, workplace or community.
So Are you Taking Actions? Invest in support of breastfeeding.
Steps like women/parents with young children to have access to skilled breastfeeding counselling from health facilities and communities need to be strengthened with increased financing & allocation of resources by the State governments.
There should be placement of appropriately-trained and skilled staff at various levels: peer supporters, health professionals, lactation
consultants and resource persons. Enact paid family leave and workplace breastfeeding policies based on the International Labor Organization (ILO
) Maternity Protection Convention as the minimum standard.
Fathers/family must support to share domestic responsibilities and care for the breastfeeding mother to create an enabling environment that empowers all women/parents to breastfeed optimally. With the collective effort of government & society, win-win situation is achievable.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.