Exclusive breastfeeding. Before I became a mother, I had never heard of it. I knew about breastfeeding, obviously, but not until I was seven months pregnant with my first child, did I learn it was possible to feed a baby only breastmilk for six months.
Most mothers I knew began complementary feeding with porridge and fruits around three months–which often coincided with their return to work after their 90-day maternity leave. Many mothers in rural areas offered their babies cow’s milk or porridge by two months. Certainly, almost all babies I knew were, by four months, happily indulging in fruits and porridge — regardless of whether they were breastfeeding, taking cow’s milk, or for the privileged few, drinking formula.
Could a child survive without even a drop of water? Impossible, I thought. Insane, actually. And even if it were possible, I imagined that the child would suffer from a nutritional deficiency of some sort. But, there was a mother and child on a television news program who appeared to prove me wrong.
I was confused as I listened to that mother and scrutinized her baby. He seemed to be the epitome of good health. He did not look famished or ‘deficient’ in any way. He was healthy to a fault. According to his mother, he hardly fell ill, not even with a common cold.
This mother encouraged new moms to breastfeed exclusively for six months. She was a career mother and had managed to do so. Interesting, I thought, especially because I knew I would be a working mother myself.
Included in the news segment were a peditrician and a nutritionist, both of whom affirmed that breastmilk only was best for baby for the first six months. They said breastmilk contained all the nutritional components needed for a baby’s growth for the first six months.
These people had to be kidding. Even professionals were in agreement with this woman?
I decided that additional research was necessary. I Googled and Googled and Googled some more. It was unanimous: breast milk is best. I began thinking that I would give it a try.
By the time my son arrived two months later in April 2011, I was sold. I exclusively breast fed him for six months, even after I returned to full-time work when he was three months old. I carried a breast pump to work, and expressed milk over my lunch hour. It was the first time my decade-old company had received a request for space to pump. The storeroom, filled with old newspapers, was the best they could offer me.
Suffice it to say that I also managed to exclusively breastfeed my second son, born in April, 2013.
The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding have been well worth it. My sons don’t fall ill often. We saved a significant amount of money because we didn’t have to buy formula, which I would have done if I had not succeeded in exclusively breastfeeding them both. Today, I use all channels within my disposal to campaign for exlusive breastfeeding because I believe it is the best start a mother can give her child.
Just the other day, I was happy to learn that the exclusive breastfeeding rates in Kenya have gone up from 32% six years ago to 61%. Meaning that I and all the other mothers I have managed to inspire through my blog and other advocacy campaigns are among the counted! Yaaaay! That has been the greatest news I have heard in a long while.
Higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding mean that more children get to survive their infancy, fall ill less often, and get to celebrate their first birthdays.
I believe that giving a child a healthy start to life through a good nutritional foundation is one of the best gifts you can offer your child. My sons appear to agree!
Is exclusive breastfeeding common where you live?
This is a post original to World Moms Blog by Maryanne W. Waweru of Mummy Tales in Kenya. Photo credit to the author.
Hi Maryanne!
Here in Belgium, exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months is more and more advocated for. When I breastfed my son (8 years ago), it was kind of a ‘hippie thing’ to do, but I sticked to it nonetheless. I had to return to work after 15 weeks, but managed to pump during my breaks. For me, feeding him with breastmilk exclusively for 6 months, despite my carreer, feels like one of my major achievements, and I’m proud of it!
You and me both proud 🙂
I have never heard of this. I am planning to start my family soon. I will give this some serious thought. Thank you for sharing.
Glad that you will give it some thoughts. The benefits are way worth it. All the best even as you plan on starting your own family.
When I was pregnant with my son, 9 years ago, I swore I would never feed him formula. I exclusively breastfed him until he was 6months old, at which point I started to introduce him to solids. He never drank anything other than breast milk though until after his 1st birthday. When my daughter was born 5 years ago, my pediatrician urged me to start to introduce her to solids at 4 months old (which I didn’t do until she was almost 6 months old). He explained that one of the problems that he was seeing was that people were introducing their children to solids too late and children were developing allergies to random things like rice, which had previously been unheard of when babies were being introduced to it at 3 and 4 months. I still agree with you though, that nothing is better for baby than breastfeeding, if you can do it. My son was a year and a half when he decided he was done with it and my daughter had to be forced to stop when she was two and a half. They have both flourished during that time. Keep up the good work, but at the same time, be sensitive to mothers who are not able to breastfeed because of other reasons. It is very important robe sensitive to those mothers as well.
Yes indeed it is true that not all mothers are able to breastfeed exclusively. Some are not even able to breastfeed at all. Genuinely so. And we do not berate them. No one is less of a mother just because she did not breastfeed. But for those are contemplating to do so, or those who are on the journey, it is good for them to hear and learn from the experiences of other moms who have done it. It challenges and encourages them.
Breastfeeding campaigns are gearing up and people are now becoming aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months is the best thing you can ever do for your child.
Indeed, Sangeetha. Let us continue being breastfeeding advocates in whatever way we can.
I love this post, Maryanne! I also exclusively breastfed both of my children in Kenya. I was shocked at how many well-meaning strangers encouraged me to give my babies water (especially when they had the hiccups!). On the other hand, I feel so fortunate to have raised my children in the Kenyan culture where breastfeeding is not taboo or hidden in any way. And how wonderful that the rates of exclusive breastfeeding are on the rise in Kenya!
Yaay Tara! Glad that you stand among the counted too. And the good thing about Kenyan (African) culture is that we are allowed to breastfeed anywhere, even if in a public place with no side eyes or looks of disapproval. Infact we are encouraged to do so. This is something that we truly appreciate because I was shocked to learn that this is not the case in many countries outside of the continent 🙁
Exclusive breastfeeding until six months is recommended in Canada. Mothers are told to withold solids until six months. I didn’t know that this wasn’t standard!
I guess it is….Kenya’s Ministry of Health has really been advocating for this and that’s how we have gotten the message. Many other African countries are doing the same, so I guess it’s standard. #breastmilkisbest
In my circles (expat mums in Brazil and Portugal) it is generally understood that breastfeeding for 6 months or longer is the best (although of course not everybody does it). It’s so important to hear stories like yours – it made me realise how much the breast is best message still needs support across the world.
Also, a note about allergies, I believe introduction of solids after 6 months is enough to ward off allergies and the whole idea needs a bit more research before definite statements can be made.
When I was pregnant and did my research, it was clear that breast was best here in Singapore. But I also had friends who told me that they struggled to breastfeed. So I kept an opened mind and told myself to try my best, after all I knew I was going to return to work after 4 months. And I surprised myself because I managed to breastfeed my daughter all the way till she was 18 months. And now that she’s six, I would like to think that she was given a head start with strong immunity because she was breastfed.