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Breastfeeding: good for baby and for mom!

Posted by Healthy Pregnancy on Sunday, March 25, 2012

Food is essential to the development of the infant, but also plays a role in the onset of certain diseases in children and adults. But the ideal nutrition is the breastfeeding exclusively until 6 months, of which only 15% of newborns receive. The Academy of Medicine issued recommendations initiatives to breastfeeding, including a lengthening of postnatal leave for women who choose to breastfeed.

Milk inimitable


The Academy of Medicine recommends breastfeeding as first choice in the newborn and the infant. That breastfeeding should be exclusive for 6 months, if not at least 4 months. 

To encourage women to make that choice, the Academy will offer up to government to extend the post-maternity leave to 4 or 6 months for women who choose to put their child within. 

It must be said that nursing in France is very low. Currently in France, only 15% of infants are exclusively breastfed until six months, against 80% for example in Scandinavian countries.


Why exclusive breastfeeding is for 6 months is recommended?


The benefits of breastfeeding are very wide and are found in children and adults in the future as in the mother. 

In addition to the development and growth, breastfeeding confers protection against infection and digestive tract. An exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months would have a preventive effect on allergies. Breast milk also helps prevent future obesity, the type 1 diabetes in children and cardiovascular disease in adults. 

In the mother, the breastfeeding facilitates the return of menses, the weight loss, decreases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and promotes harmony of mother-child relationship, which helps prevent child abuse.

When breastfeeding is not possible or refused

Recommendations were also made ​​in case of impossibility of breastfeeding. - Use only for infant formulas based on cow's milk whose standards is governed by the French and European regulations. These should be given until the age of 1 year. - Cow's milk (UHT) whole or semi skimmed milk should never be used before the age of 1 year (it is too high in protein, iron and fatty acids essential). - The hypoallergenic milk or soy formulas' have no place in the normal infant feeding 'the Academy said. The former provide no nutritional advantage over conventional infant formulas; while the latter offer no protective affect the allergy to cow's milk protein or infections. - Finally, dietary diversification should begin after the age of 5 months of age.


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