Whilst we always advocate that when it comes to nourishing and feeding your child 'fed is best'. However, as it is national breastfeeding month and world breastfeeding week, we want to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure your child's health. Breast milk is the ideal food for new-borns as it is safe and contains antibiotics which help to protect your child from common illnesses.
Breastmilk provides energy and nutrients that the infant needs in the first few months and further provides them their nutritional needs for the second half of their first year and a third of the second year of life.
WHO and UNICEF recommend that children are initially breastfed within the first hour of birth and exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life if the mother is able to. Whilst breastfeeding can be difficult for the mother to establish it is highly recommended for a baby. It is narrated from the Prophet (S): “For a child, there is no milk better than the milk of the mother.”. The recommended amount of time for breastfeeding is mentioned in the Quran several times. Allāh (SwT) mentions in Surat al-Baqarah Verse 233 “Mothers shall suckle their children for two full years, - that for such as desire to complete the suckling.”
Which ever method you pick to feed your baby, remember that you as the mother must have all the information you need to make an informed decision about what you think is best for you and your little one. This week we will be discussing different areas regarding breastfeeding and how to get the best experience, but our position is always to support women whichever avenue they decide to take.