Breast feeding: panacea for good health

                                                                     
The breast milk of a nursing mother has been revealed to be the very first immunization given to any infant irrespective of the child’s sex, background or color.
This was revealed recently as midwives/nutrition experts interacted with nursing mothers to mark their World Breast Feeding day in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government council headquarters.
Exploring the theme: Promoting Exclusive Breast feeding for neonates and nutrition, the programme office Mrs. Ojiyi D.N . identified nutrition as one of the major areas of Infant and child care.
Ojiyi a nurse/ midwife and Office in charge of one of the Primary health centers (PHC)   in Idemili South L.G.A said that Nutrition which starts with exclusive breast feeding help for proper development mile stones.
According to her, the first milk that lactates or comes out of a mother who was just delivered of a baby contains colostrums which helps in fighting anti bodies in the infant from day 1 to 3 months.
Ojiyi said that the milk from the mother is much better than canned milk from goat or cow regardless of how expensive or garnished they claim to be, adding that it has been proved that the Intelligent quotient (1Q) of children raised with breast milk is higher than their mates who were not opportuned to be breast fed properly and adequately.
 She said that the benefits of exclusive breast feeding are numerous, adding that after six months the child should continue to enjoy breast milk in between meals until he gets to the age of two years.
During the exposition Ojiyi said that Nursing mothers who are (HIV) positive can still breast feed their babies. She said that the HIV positive mother who knew her status and have been taking her routine drugs will administer the Nivirapin Syrup immediately after birth to her child so as to protect the child from being infected with the virus.
Other benefits of exclusive breast feeding includes: proper bonding of mother and child, prevention of illness like dysentery & diarrhea, being less expensive and also help in family planning. She said that most women do not see their period or menstrual cycle while breast feeding.
Ojiyi said that after exclusive breast feeding done without water, staple food should be introduces gradually to enable the child grow strong.
The child should start complementary feeding and will be fed with cup and spoon properly rinsed with warm water before and after use for hygienic purposes.
“We do not encourage mothers to feed their infants with feeder bottles because they seldom wash it properly after use,” she said.
Earlier in her address, the HOD health in the L.G.A, Okafor E O (J P) said that the only people exempted from initial breast feeding are very sick persons and those who delivered through cesarean section but after regaining strength and health should continue breast feeding.