I choose Breastfeeding as the public health that impacts childhood development. Breastfeeding is the best way for babies to receive good nutrition and be able to bond with the mother. Babies who are exclusively breast-fed are less likely to get sick, because breast milk provides them with antibodies against any diseases to which the mother is immune (Berger, 2009).
This topic was meaningful to me because my sister and I were both breast fed and we were both healthy babies who reaped all the benefits of being breast fed.
Breastfeeding varies from place to place according to Breastfeed.com in Africa using breast to feed babies is a common in everyday life. It is said if a mother doesn’t breast fed the mother is looked down on. African women often come to the experience of breastfeeding with little or no doubt and trust in their ability to produce enough milk or milk of the right quantity (Brown, 2010).
Berger, K.S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Brown, T. (2010, November 13). Breastfeeding around the World. http://www.breastfeed.com/articles/breastfeeding-advocacy/breastfeeding-around-the-world-2767/
Like you, I chose breastfeeding for my topic. I do believe in the benefits of breastfeeding. I found interesting to read that in some cultures such as Africa, women who do not breastfeed are looked down upon. When I talk with expecting parents, I do stress that breastfeeding can be valuable. I do agree with you that the bond between a mother and child is never stronger than the first months of live. I breastfed my son until he was a year and can attest to most of the benefits we read about. He attended early childhood programs and was hardly ever sick. Because we had a strong bond, he seemed to develop fast and explored freely. Even to this day, he is very independent and healthy. I do understand that it can be difficult for full time working women to be able to breastfeed for as long as I did but I will always recommend it as a better and cheaper alternative to formula.
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