World Breastfeeding Week
by Jackie
Because it’s World Breastfeeding Week and I’m still nursing my soon to be 17 month old son, I thought I’d share some beyond infant breastfeeding facts I saw at The Twinkies blog.
Breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is currently not the cultural norm and requires ongoing support and encouragement. (from The American Academy of Family Physicians Position Paper on Breastfeeding) The AAP…recommend[s] that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired. (from American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk .) It is further recommended that mothers then continue breastfeeding until 12 months of age—and beyond if both mother and infant wish. (from Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)) Infants should be introduced to nutrient-rich, solid foods with particular attention to iron at six months with continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond. (from 2004 Health Canada Recommendation on Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration ) Infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. (from World Health Organization) The aim is to create an environment globally that empowers women…to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and to continue to breastfeed for two years or more. (from UNICEF) The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness (AAFP 2001). Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers (Gulick 1986). In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:
29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements (Dewey 2001)
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August 6th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Great links! I love how consistently the message is that a child should be breastfed for at least 12 months.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:16 am
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