There is a renewed call to promote the importance of breastfeeding in the first hour after birth with research showing that one in two babies are not put to the breast within an hour of birth.
The promotion of the “early initiation of breastfeeding” is seen to be beneficial in providing newborns essential nutrients, antibodies and skin-to-skin contact with their mother that protect them from disease and death.
This week, World Breastfeeding Week, has seen UNICEF call for worldwide greater understanding of the benefits of this crucial hour and that vital first feed – so important it is being called baby’s ‘first vaccine.’
Watch Alyssa Milano promptly shut down this talk show host’s anti-breastfeeding nonsense. Post continues below.
“Making babies wait too long for the first critical contact with their mother outside the womb decreases the newborn’s chances of survival, limits milk supply and reduces the chances of exclusive breastfeeding,”
“If all babies are fed nothing but breastmilk from the moment they are born until they are six months old, over 800,000 lives would be saved every year.”
Globally, only 43 per cent of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed. Babies who are not breastfed at all are 14 times more likely to die than those who are fed only breastmilk.
Delaying breastfeeding by two to 23 hours after birth increases the risk of a baby dying in its first month by 40% and delaying by 24 hours or more increases the risk of a baby dying to 80%.
Data from UNICEF has shown that progress in getting more newborns breastfed within the first hour of life has been slow over the past 15 years – particularly in areas of sub-Saharan Africa where under-five mortality rates are the highest worldwide.
Even in South Asia, where the rates of early breastfeeding initiation tripled in 15 years, from 16 per cent in 2000 to 45 per cent in 2015, the increase is far from enough 21 million newborns still wait too long before they are breastfed.
Progress in getting more newborns breastfed within the first hour of life has been slow over the past 15 years. Image via UNICEF.
UNICEF found that feeding babies other liquids or foods is one reason early breastfeeding is delayed. In many countries, it is customary to feed a baby infant formula, cow’s milk or sugar water in the first three days of life. Almost half of all newborns are fed these liquids.
“When babies are given less nutritious alternatives to breastmilk, they breastfeed less often, making it harder for mothers to start and continue breastfeeding,” said the agency.
Studies have shown that mothers who feed or have skin contact with their babies in the first 2 hours after birth are more likely to breastfeed for longer than those who don’t. Most babies, left skin-to-skin on their mother gradually crawl to the breast, find the nipple, attach and begin to suckle unaided, usually within 70-90 minutes.
Australian health workers need to encourage mothers to be left with their babies before bathing. Image via IStock.
In Australia there is a nationwide initiative to have 80 percent of infants being breastfed at the age of 6 months, but the 2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey results showed that while 96% of mothers initiate breastfeeding less than half (39%) of babies are still being exclusively breastfed to 3 months (less than 4 months) and less than one quarter (15%) to 5 months (less than 6 months).
Bodies such as Queensland Health encourage health workers to help mothers breastfeed within the first hour asking that mothers and babies should remain together for at least the first hour after birth, prior to weighing and bathing to allow the infant to follow their instinctive behaviours.
Benefits of breastfeeding in the first hour:
- Babies who are left skin to skin with their mothers for the first hours immediately after birth are better able to regulate their temperature and respiration.
- It builds the mother’s confidence in her ability to breastfeed.
- The baby starts to receive the immunological benefits of colostrum.
- The infant’s digestion and bowel function are stimulated.
- Correct sucking at the breast at this stage may avert later sucking difficulties.
- The bonding and attachment between mother and infant are enhanced.
Top Comments
I am a supporter of women doing what is best for them and their babies. I have breastfed for over 12 years for all my kids. I chose to breastfeed - but here is the thing - I did it because I wanted to and was able. I absolutely hated midwives and others forcing women to do it. Women should not be forced to bond with baby via breastmilk within hours, must breast feed until 6 months etc. If mum is going to be away from baby sometimes it is better to bottle feed, similarly if you are going to use alcohol or drugs then why not allow babies to access formula. Many women leave hospital and bottle feed, being in the maternity ward with posters and midwives telling the mum "breast is best" is silly. Support women to make good choices. Women in developing nations often have extremely low maternal health and their stores of fat/nutrition are depleted. comp feeding sometimes helps the baby. If we want to improve breastmilk availability to babies we need to think differently. Not this nonsense. Bonding happens without INTERFERENCE. One of my midwives was a great support in recongising the moment was mine and my husband's time to be with baby. She didn't impose her views - backed off and asked if there was anything she needed to do. There is no point creating resentful mothers who are being told how to bond, when to do it, how to feed etc.
Thank you for this!!! I am soooo tired of "mother shaming" in terms of how babies are fed. Goodness, if there was as much interest paid as to what kids are fed AFTER breast/bottle feeding we wouldn't have the current problems with childhood obesity. Bonding occurs with or without a breast and mums shouldn't be made to feel that they are less if they choose not to breastfeed. I know a mum who her breastfed her son until he was 2 years old, but before he was 1 he was regularly eating Mcdonalds!! My oldest is 17, healthy, happy, academically and emotionally wonderful and all without the magic of a breast...
The facts are, breast IS best. So I don't believe it's silly to inform mothers of this fact. I gave up breastfeeding under 3 months for both my children, and I wish I had tried harder to continue. Also we are not in a developing nation so that point isn't applicable to Australia. I believe it is EXTREMELY important to give all mothers the correct facts. At the end of the day, formula is a lesser substitute for breast milk. I do agree that mothers should choose for themselves, but only after knowing the facts about the benefits of breast milk.
Good on you. No shaming parents. support to be the best they can be.
So women on shift work, on call, casual shitty hours who cannot plan to express, store their milk should just suck it up and breast feed and make baby wait? Perhaps the same argument for women who are going to use, should baby get a belly full of speed? Is that ok, not in my eyes, I have worked in child and adolescent health, parents need support to deal with what is really going on in their lives, not in the Brady bunch. Like I said, I breast fed each child for years, I support it, not enforce it.
Nothing but breastmilk in first 6 months and 800,000 infant lives are saved? Unless they are exclusively dying from starvation, then I call bullshit. If it's unhygienic living conditions or maternal environmental neglect or contaminated water then those factors exist during and after the 6 months so how exactly would breastmilk save them? It doesn't make sense!