La
Leche League International
Statement Prepared for the Governments Attending the 4th World
Conference on Women, September 4-15, 1995
As a non-governmental,
grass-roots, action-oriented organisation, La Leche League International
(LLLI) fulfills the need for support of tangible, concrete actions
in the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding. Women
are empowered through LLLI's continuous support of the importance
of breastfeeding on local, national and international levels.
The act
of breastfeeding is the natural conclusion to the cycle of conception,
pregnancy and childbirth. Breastfeeding contributes significantly
to a woman's sense of well-being. She derives self-esteem and
confidence knowing that the milk she is providing for her baby
is the perfect food.
Significant
protection for the mother against breast cancer and epithelial
ovarian cancer have been related to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding
is protective against osteoporosis, with fewer hip fractures and
stronger bones reported among postmenopausal women.
The contraceptive
effect of exclusive breastfeeding provides 98% protection against
pregnancy in the first six months. In many women, continued breastfeeding
will postpone return of fertility for a year or longer. Thus,
a woman's health and nutritional status is not compromised by
a monthly loss of iron through menstruation or closely spaced
pregnancies.
Human
milk, like all mammalian milks, is species specific. The milk
a woman provides is ideally suited for her baby whether preterm
or full term. Around the middle of the first year of a child's
life, with the addition of locally grown indigenous foods, human
milk continues to meet the nutrition and immulogical needs of
her growing child for two years and beyond.
Human
milk reduces the risk of allergies while breastfeeding promotes
jaw, tooth, facial and speech development. The role breastfeeding
plays in cognitive development was demonstrated in a 1993 study
which examined the long-term effect of breastfeeding. It was concluded
that breastfeeding has a positive effect on children's developmental
scores or school grades.
The colostrum
that precedes breast milk is high in immunological factors, providing
the baby's first defense against infections. Current data suggest
that early and frequent breastfeeding decreases the risk of hyperbilirubinaemia
and that most occurrences of jaundice need not interfere with
breastfeeding.
As mother
and/or baby are exposed to illnesses, the mother provides antibodies
through her milk to the baby. Human milk prevents gastrointestinal
and respiratory illnesses and appears to have a protective effect
against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The breastfed
baby develops a sense of security by being held frequently in
the mother's arms. Hormones secreted by the nursing mother promote
a strong bond of love between mother and baby, thus enhancing
the child's ability to grow into a loving and caring individual.
Breastfeeding
ensures a secure and nutritious food source for the baby. Even
when food sources are scarce and the mother's nutritional intake
is compromised, breast milk continues to remain the superiour
infant food. Supplementing the diet of a malnourished mother is
easier, less expensive, and more beneficial than providing alternate
milks and foods for a baby.
Breastfeeding
contributes to food security for the entire family. A significant
amount of money is saved by breastfeeding as costly artificial
feeding products do not have to be purchased. Since breastfeeding
contributes to the superiour health of the baby there is less
money spent on health care providers, hospitals, and medicine.
A woman's economic power is enhanced through breastfeeding.
Breast
milk, a natural product, requires no packaging and wastes no energy.
Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the environment and contributes
to the quality of life of future generations on the planet Earth.
Recognising
the vital importance of continued support for breastfeeding by
all levels of society, La Leche League International and other
members of the World Alliance For Breastfeeding Action are deeply
concerned about the role of the baby milk industry, in general,
and at this conference in particular.
The marketing
practices of the baby milk industry that include the provision
of free and low cost formula supplies to health care facilities
and free samples to mothers, undermine women's confidence in their
ability to nurture and sustain their children through breastfeeding.
Formula
and baby food manufacturers around the world are the primary source
of infant feeding information, disseminating misleading educational
materials through the health care system thus giving a medical
stamp of approval to breast milk substitutes. This is a major
factor contributing to the decline of breastfeeding around the
world.
Industry
representatives have been actively involved at this conference
attempting to influence the document, to undermine unified networking
with NGO's, creating alliances, buying goodwill, and muting discussion
or criticism of their activities.
LLLI supports
the right of every woman to be informed and supported in her choice
to breastfeed her baby.
The experiences
of women in LLLI all over the world, in both developed and developing
countries, whether at home or in the work force, have demonstrated
time and again that women who are provided with accurate information
and support can breastfed their babies without the use of commercially
produced milks or baby foods.
Through
successfully supported breastfeeding mothers benefit, babies benefit,
the family unit benefits, nations benefit. The whole world benefits.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION CONTACT:
La Leche League International
PO Box 4079
Schaumburg, Illinois 60168-4079 USA
Telephone: 847.519.7730
Fax: 847.519.0035
Last updated , Tuesday, January 23, 2007 by jcg.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:34:02 UTC 2007.
