Breastfeeding right after birth helps babies stay warm, builds their immune system, strengthens the bond between mother and baby
The practice of feeding an infant only breast milk for the first six months without any additional food or drink, not even water—is the exclusive breastfeeding standard for infant nutrition. It offers unmatched health benefits and plays a vital role in survival, growth, and development.
Why Breastmilk is the Best
Breastmilk is the perfect food for babies. It provides complete nutrition while being naturally safe, clean, and ready to feed without any preparation, even in areas with poor water quality or sanitation.
Starting breastfeeding right after birth through skin-to-skin contact helps babies stay warm, builds their immune system, strengthens the bond between mother and baby, and helps mothers produce more milk for longer periods.
More Than Nutrition: A Natural Medicine
More than just nutrition, breastmilk acts as powerful medicine that’s specially designed for each baby’s needs. The first milk, colostrum, is rich in antibodies that protect against infections and diseases. Breastfed babies are naturally protected from dangerous bacteria and contaminated foods that can cause diarrhea and poor nutrition, making breastfeeding especially important in emergency situations.
Studies show that breastfed babies get fewer ear infections, experience less diarrhea, and are less likely to develop pneumonia and other common childhood illnesses.
When a mother gets sick, her body produces antibodies that pass through breastmilk, protecting the baby from the same illness. This makes breastmilk a dynamic and responsive defense system—customized to each baby’s environment.
Cost-effective and Environmental Benefits
Breastfeeding is also cost-effective for families and health systems. It also having a minimal environmental footprint compared to formula production, which involves industrial processing, packaging, and transportation.
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When Breastfeeding is Challenging
When a woman is unable to breastfeed or not producing enough milk, there are several important considerations and support strategies to consider:
Understanding early milk production: In the first days after birth, mothers produce colostrum, is extremely beneficial for newborn babies, in small but sufficient amounts for a newborn’s needs. No additional water, juice, or formula is needed. Worrying about low supply at this stage is common but usually unnecessary.
Supporting Breastfeeding Success: Early and frequent skin-to-skin contact, along with baby’s strongest instinct of suckling, helps establish milk flow. Healthcare providers, midwives, and community health workers play a crucial role in supporting new mothers through this process.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Introducing formula or bottles too early can disrupt the baby’s natural sucking reflex and interfere with breastfeeding. Giving anything other than colostrum in the early days may also increase the risk of infections and delay milk production.
What If a Mother Cannot Breastfeed?
In rare cases, a mother may be unable to breastfeed due to medical reasons or insufficient milk production. In such situations, safe alternatives include:
- Expressed breastmilk from the baby’s own mother
- Donor milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human milk bank
- Breastmilk substitutes (infant formula) fed using a cup rather than a bottle and teat
The most important step is connecting mothers with skilled lactation counselors and healthcare professionals who can assess the situation and offer personalized support.
No mother should feel guilt or shame for not being able to breastfeed. Whether by choice or circumstance, all mothers deserve respect, support, and compassionate care. — UNICEF
What if a woman is malnourished?
Even malnourished mothers can usually produce nutritionally adequate breastmilk. In fact, breastfeeding remains the safest option for babies in resource-limited settings where formula feeding may pose greater health risks. The priority should be improving maternal nutrition while continuing breastfeeding, rather than substituting it.
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How UNICEF Supports Mothers and Infant Feeding?
UNICEF celebrating World Breastfeeding Week between August 1–7, committed to support all mothers—regardless of how they feed their babies. Its approach includes:
- Skilled counselling for mothers who face breastfeeding challenges
- Training for health workers to provide non-judgmental, evidence-based feeding support
- Advocacy for family-friendly policies at workplace like nursing breaks and spaces for expressing breastmilk
- Promoting clean water and sanitation for safe formula feeding when necessary
Every mother deserves the right to informed, respectful, and compassionate care. Whether breastfeeding or not, the goal is always the same: a healthy baby and a supported mother.