Posted May 19, 2011
Despite widespread promotion of the importance of breastfeeding, only a fraction of infants in the UAE have actually received their mother’s milk, said an expert at a breastfeeding and child nutrition conference in the Capital.
Quoting figures from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dr Mohamad Miqdady, consultant paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) stated that less than 20 per cent of babies in the country, from zero to five months old, were ‘exclusively’ breastfed. He attributed this to ‘lack of support from healthcare providers and the short maternity leave granted to women here. Dr Miqdady was speaking to mums and mums-to-be on Sunday, during the third Philips AVENT annual breastfeeding forum.
Highlighting the importance of breastfeeding, Dr Miqdady said that the process of breastfeeding is nurturing for the mother, as well as, the child.
“According to studies, children who were breastfed are 3.2 per cent smarter than those who were not. This is also true in premature babies,” said the specialist.
Breastfed babies also have lower risk of contracting diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease and childhood cancer, as well as, being overweight and obese.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that babies should be breastfed exclusively for six months. “This is the best way to prevent allergies and having a healthier child. When you extend the exclusivity of breastfeeding, you have less morbidity from gastrointestinal problems,” Dr Miqdady stressed.
According to Dr Miqdady, if the baby is gaining weight at an expected rate and is soaking six to eight diapers a day, then he or she is getting enough milk.
olivia@khaleejtimes.com
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