Breastfeeding in the first hour of life could reduce infant mortality rates in poor countries – Quartz

Mothers who breastfeed their infants in the hour following delivery offer their newborns the best possible start for life (pdf). But three out of five babies in the world are not breastfed within this period, which exposes them to the risk of disease, developmental delays and infections, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. Health and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

In 2017 alone, about 78 million babies were not breastfed in the first hour of their lives, most of them born in low-income or middle-income countries . Reasons can often be attributed to outdated practices in hospitals or health facilities, as well as cultural factors in some countries. Some hospitals give neonates infant formula instead of breast milk, for example, while other health workers separate mothers from their babies immediately after birth. Meanwhile, the increase in caesarean sections operated in some countries means that some babies are delayed while breastfeeding while their mothers are recovering. In Egypt, only 19% of babies born by cesarean section are breastfed within an hour after birth, according to the report, compared to 39% of babies born in Egypt vaginally.

All this is a problem because breast milk acts as the first immunization of babies. Thanks to a component known as colostrum, rich in antibodies, milk protects babies against many infections and diseases while helping to regulate the immune system of babies.

Breastfeeding during the first hour of life also aids skin to skin. contact between a mother and her newborn. It's good for both of them. The sensation of a breast-feeding baby stimulates the release of oxytocin in the mother, reducing maternal bleeding after birth, giving her a sense of calm and happiness, and stimulating the flow of milk from his chest. For babies, skin-to-skin contact with their mother during the first hours of life promotes optimal brain development and facilitates attachment.

Waiting for breastfeeding, even for a few hours, can increase the chances of dying. Researchers have shown that the longer babies have to wait a long time before breastfeeding, the greater the risk. A 2017 study published in PLOS showed that, compared to infants breastfed less than one hour after birth, infants breastfed between two and 23 hours after birth were 33% more likely to die. As concludes the new report from UNICEF and WHO, "When it comes to breastfeeding, the moment is everything."

So, what is the solution? According to the report, it's more support for new moms and their newborns, with health workers who understand the science behind breastfeeding and who are trained to help mothers find out how to position their babies and suck them. According to the report, "Improving breastfeeding practices could save the lives of more than 800,000 children under the age of 5 every year, the vast majority of whom are under the But the report points out that it is safe to breastfeed. is a systemic and not an individual problem. "One can not expect mothers to do it alone."

Read more of our series on Rewiring Childhood . This report is part of a series supported by a grant from the Bernard van Leer Foundation. The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of the Bernard van Leer Foundation.