Breastfeeding is a 3D experience

Last week, National Breast Feeding Week, the focus was on 'the 3Ds of breastfeeding' - duration, balanced diet and dollar.

Duration

The conversation we want to have with families and communities is that the longer one breastfeeds the greater the benefits for all concerned. It is recommended that the target time be six months of breast milk only for infants. This provides the right balance of nutrients for growth and development up to this stage. After six months, the infant needs a greater amount of energy and nutrients than the breast milk can supply and should start eating from the family pot with increasing variety and portions, while breast milk consumption is reduced.

Breastfeeding can be successfully continued up to two years with the child still benefiting nutritionally. We want to continue to talk about challenges and barriers to successful exclusive breastfeeding to six months, as achieving this goal nationally means savings for the country by reducing undernutrition, diarrhoeal diseases associated with poor feeding practices and many other childhood illnesses.

Balanced diet

A balanced diet is vital to mothers during pregnancy but is especially crucial during breastfeeding, as this period demands more calories than pregnancy. The mother needs support to ensure that she consumes a diet from all the food groups.

She should consume energy-rich foods such as cereals (for example, cornmeal) as well as energy-rich ground provisions, protein-rich foods such as meats, fish, peas, beans and nuts, fruits and vegetables and adequate fats. She needs to also eat more than once or twice per day, and support is essential to assist her in this respect. Ensuring a balanced diet for mother will guarantee milk production of optimum quality without sacrificing her muscle stores in terms of weight loss.

Dollar savings

A can of the most economical infant formula is more than J$1,000 and, depending on the age of the infant, the mother will need more than four cans per month. This can be expensive for women with limited resources and other children to feed, coupled with other household demands.

Breast milk is inexpensive, as she only needs to take care of her nutrition. There is no need for bottles, nipples, mixing etc. The money saved can be used for other family needs. There is also great dollar savings to the nation in terms of foreign exchange for imported formula milk.

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services; email yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.