A senior Midwifery Officer at the Ridge Hospital, Felicia Martey-Duodu, has stated the essence of exclusive breastfeeding for babies.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Nyinsen Ne Awo) health show, she advised mothers to solely breastfeed for the first six months.
She explained that breast milk contains essential nutrients that nourish the baby and boost the immune system.
“Exclusive breastfeeding refers to a mother feeding her baby with only breast milk from the first day till six months. Breast milk contains nutrients that guard the infant’s immune system and ensure a good growth rate.
“If you include other foods in the first six months, the newborn will not get the sufficient nutrients needed,” she explained.
Madam Martey-Duodu entreated nursing mothers to breastfeed newborns after one hour of birth should there be no complications on both sides.
“Exclusive breastfeeding involves three B’s thus, the Baby, the Breast, and the Brain. When the nipple is placed in the baby’s mouth, a signal is sent to the brain which produces hormones that supply the breast milk for the baby.
“When a mother delivers at first, she does not need much breast milk to feed the baby. Per WHO standards, mothers are supposed to breastfeed 12 times or when the need arises,” she urged.
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