National breastfeeding week begins thursday
There has been a significant increase in childhood obesity in Ireland in recent decades, according to the Growing Up in Ireland study, published earlier this year. Breastfeeding plays a significant role in reducing obesity in babies, with the effects lasting into adulthood. Paediatrician Carlos González, MD explains how babies learn to control their diet from early on:
What your child does at the breast to obtain exactly what he needs from one day to the next is pure engineering. The child has total and perfect control over his diet as long as he can change the variables at will. This is what feeding on demand means; let the baby decide when he wants to nurse, how long he wants to be at the breast, and if he wants one or both sides (My Child Won’t Eat, 2005).
Breastfeeding on cue (or on demand) helps your baby learn how to control his own diet so when your child begins to eat complementary foods (at around 6months of age), the skills learned while breastfeeding continue to help him eat only what he needs to be satisfied, and therefore reduce the risk of obesity.
National Breastfeeding Week 2015, runs from October 1–7 with the theme “Every Breastfeed Makes a Difference”, promoting the importance of breastfeeding and breastfeeding for longer. By attending La Leche League meetings, expectant and breastfeeding mothers can observe other mothers breastfeed, engage in friendly conversation with their peers and get accurate breastfeeding information and support from accredited breastfeeding counsellors. Mothers who attend LLL meetings during pregnancy are around 80% more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding their babies at 6 months of age.
La Leche League International (LLLI) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1956 by seven women who wanted to help other mothers to learn about breastfeeding. Today LLLI is an internationally recognised authority on breastfeeding with a mother-to-mother network in nearly 60 countries. In 2016, La Leche League of Ireland will celebrate 50 years of supporting Irish mothers who breastfeed their babies. There are almost 100 LLL Leaders in Ireland supporting breastfeeding mothers with 34 active Groups across the country.
La Leche League Groups around Ireland will hold various events to celebrate National Breastfeeding Week. Visit our webpage to view upcoming events and to discover how to avoid or overcome breastfeeding challenges or locate your nearest LLL Leader and Group. Information can be found on our website www.lalecheleagueireland.com, on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LaLecheLeagueIreland or in your local telephone directory.