The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that some 77 million of the world’s newborns – or 1 in 2 – are not breastfed within the first hour of birth, depriving them of essential nutrients and antibodies and thus exposing them to an increased risk of death.
According to the agency, delaying breastfeeding by two to 23 hours after birth increases the risk of dying in the first 28 days of life by 40 per cent. Delaying it by 24 hours or more increases that risk to 80 per cent.
“Early breastfeeding can make the difference between life and death,” France Bégin, UNICEF Senior Nutrition Adviser, said today in a press release.
“If all babies are fed nothing but breastmilk from the moment they are born until they are six months old, over 800,000 lives would be saved every year,” she added.
Breastmilk is a baby’s first vaccine, the first and best protection they have against illness and disease. Putting the baby to the breast also provides them with the essential nutrients, antibodies and skin-to-skin contact with their mother that protects them from disease.
A delay for this critical first contact not only decreases the newborn’s chances of survival, it limits milk supply and reduces the chances of exclusive breastfeeding.
Source: UNICEF
