Breastfeeding Benefits

Health is undoubtedly important and infants are highly prone to numerous threats that lead to high illness, disease, and mortality rate. Breastfeeding is a natural way of nourishing infants; providing protection from health threats and benefits for both the mother and the child. The availability and marketing of breast milk alternatives undermine breastfeeding. Breast milk alternatives are needed in very rare situations and should be prescribed by a doctor. However, its use has become so common that many parents-to-be think about what or how many feeding bottles and which formula milk to give their offspring when pregnancy test show a positive result. Alternatives are supposed to serve as aids when needed but not as initial options.

In 1978,

It is not only a lifestyle choice but a basic health issue. Although WHO recommends breastfeeding for two years and beyond, it is not the norm in many societies including the Philippines which is deeply penetrated with infant formula and follow-on milk for toddlers. Misconceptions and lack of knowledge intercepts successful breastfeeding journey from pregnancy, delivery, the supposed exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and up until the complementary feeding stage of a child. Additionally, numerous benefits not only proves health improvement but is also related to morbidity, infant mortality, intellectual and motor development, chronic diseases, maternal health, including its economic

Hence, implementation of the International code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes by WHO and the Milk Code of the Philippines play vital roles in protecting each mother's right to breastfeed and each child's right to be breastfed. It regulates marketing of alternatives and related products which undermines breastfeeding. In the Philippines, manufacturers lobbied the government to contradict the adoption of The Rooming-in Bill which encourages mothers to breastfeed and sleep with their babies which is a vital practice that sets the beginning of a mom and infant's breastfeeding journey. This proves the need for protecting breastfeeding (WHO; Executive Order No. 51;