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First week of August every year is World Breastfeeding Week, championed by WHO, UNICEF and health partners. This year’s theme is “Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future.” WHO emphasizes that breastfeeding builds a healthy foundation for lifelong growth, development and equity. As WHO notes, breastfed children do better (cognitively and physically) and societies benefit – breastfeeding reduces healthcare costs and boosts. In fact, this year’s poster proclaims “Let’s put babies before bottom lines,” emphasizing that every mother deserves the support she needs to breastfeed successfully. This isn’t just about doing what’s right—it’s also smart economics!
Benefits for Your Baby (Short Term and Long Term)
Breast milk is complete nutrition for infants. In the first days, colostrum provides concentrated nutrients and antibodies that kick-start your baby’s immune system. As the baby grows, breastmilk adapts to meet changing needs. Its antibodies and anti-infective factors protect against diarrhea, pneumonia and other common infections. That is why, baby must be fed only breastfeed soon after birth: Pre-lacteal items like honey or glucose water must be avoided. Breastfed babies have significantly lower rates of ear infections and respiratory illnesses than formula-fed babies. They also have a reduced risk of asthma and allergies.
Breastfeeding also supports brain and physical development. Long-chain fatty acids and growth factors in breast milk are important for healthy brain growth. Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores and better cognitive outcomes. It helps proper jaw and tooth development and reduces malocclusion (misaligned teeth)who.int. Importantly, breastfed infants are less likely to suffer from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Key benefits for baby:
Ideal nutrition and stronger immunity (fewer infections)
Better digestion (less constipation) and healthy weight gain
Lower risk of asthma, allergies, ear infections and SIDS
Enhanced brain development and higher IQ
Reduced long-term risk of obesity and diabetes
Benefits for You (Mom)
Breastfeeding isn’t just good for baby – it benefits the mother’s health too. For one, the baby suckling at the breast triggers uterine contractions, helping the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and reducing bleeding after birth. This uterine involution and the extra calories burned can aid postpartum recovery and weight lossihs.gov. In fact, mothers who breastfeed tend to lose pregnancy weight faster than those who do not.
Exclusive breastfeeding also delays the return of fertility (lactational amenorrhea), naturally spacing pregnancies for a few months. Over the long term, women who breastfeed have lower risks of serious diseases. Studies consistently find that extended breastfeeding reduces a mother’s chance of breast and ovarian cancer and of developing type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The act of breastfeeding also releases hormones like oxytocin and prolactin, which promote maternal relaxation and bonding.
Key benefits for mothers:
Faster postpartum recovery (uterine contraction, less bleeding)
Quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight
Natural spacing of pregnancies (ovulation suppression)
Lower long-term risk of breast/ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes
Enhanced bonding, confidence and emotional well-being
Summary of Benefits
Table: Key benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers, and society.
Beneficiary Key Benefits of Breastfeeding
Infant/Child • Complete nutrition and immunity (fewer infections)
• Lower risk of asthma, allergies, ear infections and SIDS
• Better brain development and higher IQ
• Reduced long-term risk of obesity and diabetes
Mother • Faster postpartum recovery (uterine contraction, weight loss)
• Natural birth spacing (lactational amenorrhea)
• Lower risk of breast/ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes
• Enhanced bonding, confidence and emotional well-being
Family/Society • Lower healthcare costs (healthier children)
• Fewer work absences for parents (healthier babies)
• Positive economic impact (healthier next generation)
Kumar Child Clinic’s Commitment
At Kumar Child Clinic, we have always strongly advocated for breastfeeding. We counsel the new mothers that exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months is ideal, after which appropriate complementary foods should be introduced (while continuing breastfeeds). This approach – breastmilk plus solids from 6 to 24 months – follows Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and global WHO/UNICEF recommendations.
We do recognize modern challenges as well: many mothers work outside the home, but workplaces and healthcare providers can create breastfeeding-friendly environments. Mothers can express and store milk safely, we do provide guidance and reassurance as needed. The core message at Kumar Child Clinic is that every breastfeed counts – even a small amount of breastmilk has benefits. We encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired (up to 2 years or beyond, as recommended by National and International guidelines.
Breastfeeding is a natural gift, but mothers sometimes face hurdles. Our team at Kumar Child Clinic is here to help with any breastfeeding difficulties or questions. By choosing to breastfeed, you are giving your child a head start for a healthier life – which truly is an investment in the future. And most importantly, it is not just mother's responsibility to breastfeed: it needs supportive environment: father, grandparents, other family members, society as a whole, including employers and institutions in addition to motivated health care workers for ultimate success!!
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World Breastfeeding Week 2025
Investing in breastfeeding is investing in future