Exclusive Breastfeeding in the First Six Months of Life Questioned

Scottish researchers have warned that the recommendation that a newborn should exclusively breastfeed for the first six months without any solid food intake is unhelpful.

The World Health Organization and other health agencies have aggressively promoted the policy that newborns should be breastfed for the first six months as it protects the babies from infections, asthma and eczema in childhood and reduces the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity in adulthood.

However researchers from University of Aberdeen and the University of Stirling said that the recommendation that the babies should exclusively breastfed was unrealistic. The researchers conducted 220 interviews among 36 mothers and their partners and found that many mothers feel that they pressurized into breastfeeding.

"By promoting six months' exclusive breastfeeding, policymakers are encouraging idealistic expectations and goals in pregnancy, but health services are not providing the skilled help required to establish breastfeeding after birth", the researchers said.

Source: Medindia