WHO recommends maternal leave of at least 4 months to encourage breastfeeding

How much is the minimum time a mother should be in low after giving birth? This question, often formulated, has a clear answer for the World Health Organization (WHO): Four months is the minimum time to guarantee breastfeeding to babies.

On the occasion of the World Breastfeeding Week, this international organization appealed to all the governments of the world to provide a minimum of four months' permit, in order to encourage and facilitate breastfeeding, as this is the best way to feed newborns.

Right of working mothers

At this point, WHO has been concerned about the lack of protection of theright of working women to breastfeeding and he recalled that it is recommended to feed babies only with milk from the mother during the first six months of life.


That is why he has insisted on theEstablishment of a maternity leave of at least four months, as well as requiring companies to provide a protected place and enough time for mothers to get milk at work.

It also calls for more programs to prevent discrimination against women and working mothers. Among its recommendations, it is also important to provide mothers with part-time work or to set up nurseries in the companies themselves.

Benefits of breastfeeding

The same organization recognizes that only a third of babies receive only breastfeeding during their six first months of life, but remember that there are many studies that have shown that breast milk provides all the energy and nutrients that the child needs and that, in addition, protects from infectious and chronic diseases through antibodies.


And is that breast milk provides half or more of the nutrients needed by the baby during his second semester of life, an amount that can reach a third during the second year. In addition, it has been shown that fosters sensory development and cognitive of the baby and that reduces infant mortality due to diarrhea or pneumonia. Not only that: breastfed children are also less likely to be overweight and Type 2 diabetes

To make matters worse, they have also demonstrated the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers: it works as a natural method of birth control, because it ensures 98 percent protection during the first months of the baby's life. It also reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, helps lose weight gained during pregnancy and reduces obesity rates.


Artificial milk?

To conclude, from the WHO have reminded that giving artificial milk to babies can put their health at risk because this kind of product does not contain the antibodies of breast milk, so the child is less protected.

In this sense, the WHO has an international code to regulate the commercialization of breast milk substitutes in which it is established that the information of these products should make clear the benefits of breastfeeding and the health risks of artificial milk. In addition, it stipulates that these products should not be promoted or distributed free of charge to mothers, families or health centers.

Angela R. Bonachera

Video: Breastfeeding: Benefits Beyond the Bond


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