Fewer children are fed only breast milk during first six months of life

An increasing number of mothers in Moldova use food additives when feeding children younger than six, to the detriment of breastfeeding. It happens mainly in rural areas, especially in socially underprivileged families, UNICEF Health Programs coordinator Angela Capcelea stated for Info-Prim Neo in the context of the nationwide Breastfeeding Promotion Week that is taking place between August 1 and 7. “The high number of children who are not breastfed in rural areas is mainly due to the traditional thinking. The mothers believe that the breast milk is insufficient for raising a child. Some of the mothers are exhausted owing to the physical activities they perform. The women have to cultivate the land and leave home for many hours. The person looking after the baby feeds him with additives. Some of the mothers are not correctly informed about the importance of breastfeeding, especially because there are only nurses in some of the villages and no family doctors, who do not manage to provide the mothers with the necessary information,” said Angela Capcelea. Doctors warn that the practice of using additives for feeding babies is harmful as the digestive apparatus during the first four-six months of life is not able to digest other kinds of food than breast milk. Studies show that breastfeeding is beneficial to the mother as well because it prevents breast and uterine cancer, while breastfeeding from the very first days of the child’s life strengthens the bond between the mother and the baby. “Breastfeeding implies increased hygiene. The mothers must eat only certain kinds of food. The artificial additives are much easier administered and thus many parents resort to them,” Ministry of Health senior pediatrics specialist Tatiana Raba has told Info-Prim Neo. According to a UNICEF study, the babies are fed correctly mainly in urban areas (46% compared with 21.1% in villages) and by parents with higher education (42.3%). The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies should be fed only breast milk for their first six months of life. Children who are breastfed are less likely to develop many illnesses in infancy, childhood and adulthood. The breast milk contains living white blood cells that help combat diseases, gives the baby necessary immunity and protects him from digestive disorders, diarrhea, respiratory system diseases, diabetes and obesity, it is said in a communiqué from UNICEF.