THE NEED FOR GOOD NUTRITION AMONG BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS.

Breast feeding plays an important role in making food security a reality for the 140million babies born every year.

You will agree with me that mothers around the world are faced with the daily need to answer the cries of their hungry infants without the security of breast milk.

Breast feeding then becomes the first and the most immediate response to food insecurity to infants and should be promoted and supported.There is of course need to consider other comlexities associated with breast feeding such as mothers in refugee camps, war zones or in countries facing natural disasters. Breastfeeding reduces childhood diseases and deaths.

Of the 150 million refugees in the world today 2 million at any one given time are mothers.Also urban centres and in both the developed and the developing world consists of large populations of unemployed and working poor for whom artificial feeding is an unaffordable choice.

But even in the midst of malnutrition,famine,hunger,drought and disaster breast feeding remains the best choice for infants.Breast milk changes to adopt to the surroundings.Breast milk will provide antibodies to protect the baby if there is new infectious agent in her surroundings.It therefore changes form to meet the childs needs.

Breaast milk is also impotrant for pre-term babies, as it is more energy dense and has more nutrients to cater for pre-term babies.

Also research has shown that, succeeful breastfeeding contributes to mother's self esteem and confidence which,are critical for her ability to take care of herself and the family.

Breaaastfeeding therefore provides total food security for infants as it is readily available, affordable and nutritious, and is complete food for infants up to the age of six months.

Therefore as a mother you should know that even after six months breast feeding continues to provide the growing child with essential nutrients and energy, and helps to prevent malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies up to the second year of life and beyond alongside other foods.

Aside from the dictates of modern lifestyles our modern mothers needs to take the issues of breast feeding more seriously than most currently do.