Question

i have to do a information speech and I was thinking about talking about the importance of breast feeding. can anyone help me with a creative opener to grasp the listeners attention and some important facts or just anything i can say about it in the speech ?! thank you in advanced !

Answer 1

Importance of breast feeding

“Breastfeeding is a mother's gift to herself, her baby, and the earth.” –   Pamela K Wiggins

Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman's breast. It is recommended that breastfeeding should begin within the first hour of a baby's life and continue as often and as much as the baby wants.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) "Exclusive breastfeeding" is defined as no other food or drink, not even water, except breast milk for first 6 months of life, but allows the infant to receive ORS, drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals and medicines). Let’s discuss some of the importance of breast feeding.

In this era of convenience, people always go for easy way to do things. Same way mothers can choose between giving their babies breast milk or formula, many opt for the latter stating work and convenience as their reason. But, that is one of the wrong decision one mother can ever take in her life. Studies show that breast feeding has a lot of advantages over feeding with formula for the baby, mother and society. Within 3-5 days of baby’s birth, the mother’s mammary glands secrete a unique type of milk, colostrum, referred to as liquid gold because of its yellowish colour. This thick milk contains vital nutrients and antibodies required by the child to grow and develop resistance to diseases. The baby should not be withheld with the benefits of the Colostrum. That would be the biggest punishment a mother can ever give to her baby. (NB: This can be used as opener as well)

The Exclusive Breastfeeding provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life. In addition it helps the infants to survive, grow and develop properly with the right proportion of nutrients. Moreover it is safe, clean, cheap and contains antibodies to strengthen their immune system, enabling it to fight against life threatening illnesses like pneumonia and diarrhoea amongst other infections.Experts reveal that breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. They cry less as well.

Opting for breast milk over formula benefits not only the babies but also the women who breastfeed. Breastfeeding produces the naturally soothing hormones oxytocin and prolactin that promote stress reduction and positive feelings in the nursing mother. In addition, increased confidence, self-esteem and increased calmness. On the other hand , Epidemiologic data suggest that women who do not breastfeed face higher risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, as well as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, post partum depression and cardiovascular disease.

Moms can still breastfeed while sick. In fact, it's good for the baby. When the mother gets sick, the body starts fighting the illness by making antibodies, which get passed to the baby and strengthen the immune system of the baby. When a baby is exclusively breastfed, mothers are more productive, because them and their babies are healthy and would not need to take leave from work for health reasons as may be the case a mother who feeds her baby formula.

The skin to skin contact between mother and child during breast feeding raises the mother’s oxytocin levels which helps the mother’s milk flow and make her calm, scientists say that during breast feeding the mother and child develop a special emotional bond that lasts lifelong. This will also helps in formation of the child’s personality later in his life.

Apart from the baby and mother who benefits from the breastfeeding, the society also gain some betterments. When the baby is healthy, the society gets better manpower and less sick spells. Moreover, Financial Savings to Government and Families as the incidence of illness is reduced in mother as well as baby. Breastfeeding requires no packaging, and its production does not harm the environment.

People might have various ideas and believes regarding how long the breastfeeding to be continued. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), breast-feeding should continue “as long as mutually desired by mother and child.” Moreover, “there is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.”

To summarize, considering the benefits for both the mother and the baby, it is important for a mother to breastfeed her baby. Creating a supportive environment that enables women to breastfeed is our collective responsibility and only by working together will be able to achieve it. So let’s join our hands for a better and healthy world.