KATHMANDU: We are almost at the end of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) being celebrated globally from August 1 to August 7. How does Nepal as a country fare in breastfeeding to neonates? Here are the data shared by world organizations such as WHO (World Health Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and other organizations.

An estimated 55 neonates (just born babies) in 100 are breastfed within the first hour of their life on earth in Nepal. Rest 45 neonates in 100 somehow do not access breastfeeding from their mothers within the first hour of birth remain at higher risk of death and disease, says UNICEF and WHO in a new report.

Nearly half of the babies born in Province-2 receive feedings such as honey, water and cow milk other than the breastfeeding during the first three days of their life.

According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016, Province-7 tops the list with 70.7% of mothers suckling to their neonates within the first hour of their birth while Province 2 is the lowest in the list with only 45.3% mothers suckling to their newborns within the first hour of giving birth.

Nearly half of the babies born in Province-2 receive feedings such as honey, water and cow milk other than the breastfeeding during the first three days of their life. This is six times more than that of Province-7.

Nepal provides a maximum of 98 days of maternity leave (which is less in comparison to advance countries and other South Asian neighbors) to expectant mothers working in the formal sectors and government offices. Maternity leave is helpful for both mother and neonates as it increases the possibilities of breastfeeding to a great extent and reduces the maternal mortality rate as well as infant mortality rate.

However, the maternity leave is taken only for two times during the entire service period, which is somewhat akin to putting a ban on motherhood and depriving women of the leave that they deserve when they choose to become a mother after the birth of their second child as some activists argue.

This year according to a chosen theme empower parents and enable breastfeeding, WHO is working with UNICEF and other partners to promote the importance of family-friendly policies to enable breastfeeding and help parents nurture the bond with their children in early life when it requires the most.

Among other things, it includes enacting laws for paid maternity leave for a minimum of 18 weeks, and paid paternity leave to encourage shared responsibility of caring for their children on an equal basis. Mothers also need access to a parent-friendly workplace to protect and support their ability to continue breastfeeding after they return to work.

Working mothers must be given breastfeeding breaks at the workplace when they are carrying the babies along. Organizations and government offices which employ a number of women must provide a safe, private, and hygienic space for breastfeeding and also storing breast-milk at affordable childcare.

Nepal Government has already started working in this direction as a mandatory arrangement of lactation room in local and provincial level offices is to be constructed in the same building.

The preparation is afoot as per the direction given by the Ministry of Health and Population to request all 753 local bodies and state-level offices for setting up lactation room for breastfeeding in line with provision mentioned in the Reproductive Health Act. A lactation room was set up at the premises of the Department of Health Services last year on August 1, 2018.

WHO suggests exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is 6 months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or beyond from the time of birth.

Neonates if breastfed within the first hour of their birth are more likely to survive than those who are deprived of it. Even a delay of a few hours in breastfeeding after the birth are proved to be life-threatening for newborns. At the same time, it is also a lifesaving exercise for mother as she suckles her newborn developing kinesthetic contact with her breast thereby stimulating the onset of breast-milk vital for a healthy physical and emotional growth of neonate.

Colostrum provides high amounts of immunoglobulin A (IgA) which protects the baby from getting sick apart from containing several other antibodies.

Breast milk is the only naturally gifted and the most ideal nutrition for infants. It has almost all the ingredients that a baby needs to survive and grow properly — a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat.

Breast milk contains antibodies that help a newborn fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of catching asthma and attack of allergies to neonates. Those babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula suggested from outside, have a fewer rate of ear infections, respiratory diseases, and bouts of diarrhea.

They also curtail their trips to a doctor and reduce drastically incidents of hospitalizations. The colostrum present in the breast-milk is not only the first milk for a newborn but also the baby’s ‘first vaccine’, which is extremely rich in nutrients and antibodies.

Colostrum provides high amounts of immunoglobulin A (IgA) which protects the baby from getting sick apart from containing several other antibodies. When the mother is exposed to viruses or bacteria, she begins to produce antibodies which are then secreted into the breast milk and passed on to the baby during breastfeeding.

Breast-fed infants are more likely to acquire the right amount of weight when they grow up and avoid SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Furthermore, close physical contact between a mother and a baby with eye contact during the course of breastfeeding strengthens the bond of love and affection making neonates grow as an emotionally balanced and confident adult. Breastfeeding is helpful and beneficial for mothers as well as it burns extra calories that mother adds on to her body after childbirth.

Increasing breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save more than 800,000 lives every year, the majority of which are neonates (under 6 months).

It can help the mother lose pregnancy weight faster. The hormone oxytocin is released which helps the mother’s uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and also reduce uterine bleeding after the birth of a baby. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease in a woman. A study suggests that it also lowers down the risk of osteoporosis.

World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August, encourages breastfeeding with a view to improving the health of neonates around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Increasing breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save more than 800,000 lives every year, the majority of which are neonates (under 6 months). World Breastfeeding Week was first celebrated in 1992 by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and is now observed in over 120 countries by WHO, UNICEF, and their partner organizations individuals and governments.

WABA was formed on 14 February 1991 with the goal to re-establish a global breastfeeding culture and provide support for breastfeeding everywhere. “Breastfeeding gives children the best possible start in life,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We must urgently scale up support to mothers – be it from family members, health care workers, employers, and governments, so they can give their children the start they deserve.”