BREAST-FEEDING FOR HEALTHIER BABIES

Breast-feeding is one effective measure in ensuring the health and nutrition of babies. Breast milk is best for babies for the following reasons:

It contains the right amounts and proportions of energy and all nutrients required by infants for the first six months of life for them to grow strong, healthy, and for good brain development.

It is easily digested and absorbed by babies compared to cow's milk.

Colostrum, the thick and yellowish fluid usually produced in the first three days after delivery is rich with antibodies that help defend the newborn against infections, diarrhea and other common illnesses. Colostrum also helps remove the dark green or blackish matter discharged from the newborn's bowel.

Breast milk is safe for the infant as it is clean and does not spoil in the breast and is always at the right temperature.

BREAST-FEEDING

	Is convenient for both the mother and her infant since this is possible whenever and wherever the baby needs it.
	Is inexpensive since the cost of additional nutritional requirements for lactation is cheaper than the cost of milk formulas, as well as bottles, nipples and the cost of sterilization.
	Through the baby's sucking at the mothers' breast helps form their teeth and palate and in developing their jaws.

According to a survey done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), nine (9) in every ten (10) mothers breast-feed their babies. The survey also revealed that mothers breast-feed their children for an average of 11 months but very few exclusively breast-feed until 6 months as recommended in the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos.

Reasons given for stopping breast-feeding were inadequate milk flow (22.1%), mother's working outside the home or being busy (16.2%) and the child refusing the breast (17.5%). A lactating mother needs to have increased food intake not only for her own nutritional needs but also for adequate milk production. A well-nourished mother can satisfactorily breastfeed her baby up to two years.

Lactating mothers also need to get enough rest and to avoid alcoholic drinks, coffee, and smoking for better milk flow. Working mothers can continue breast-feeding by storing expressed breast milk into sterilized bottles, keeping in the freezer and thawing into room temperature and giving while at work, and subsequently continuing to breast-feed when at home.

The FNRI study also showed that exclusively breast-fed babies, 0-5 month old were found to have better nutritional status than those who were bottle-fed or those who were both breast-fed and bottle-fed.

The "Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos" (NGF) recommends that infants should be exclusively breast-feed up to six months, after which complementary foods should be given while breast-feeding continues up to two years.

By breast-feeding their babies, mothers are more assured of healthier and betternourished babies!

For more information about breast-feeding and nutritional needs of young children, you may write or call: The Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Gen. Santos Ave. Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Tel/Fax: 837-29-34, 837-31-64; E-mail: cvcb@fnri.dost.gov.ph.