Increase the breastfeeding rate by 10% and let more children seize the first 1,000 days of life. How to improve it? Who will help?

[Let’s increase the breastfeeding rate by 10% and let more children seize the first 1,000 days of life. How to improve it? Who will help? ]

The target for 2020 in the Outline of China's Children Development (2011-2020) and the National Nutrition Plan (2017-2030) is to achieve an exclusive breastfeeding rate of more than 50% for infants aged 0 to 6 months. The target for 2030 in the National Nutrition Plan (2017-2030) is to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants aged 0 to 6 months by 10% based on the 2020 level.

A 10% increase may not sound like much, but for many new parents, it is not easy.

1. Both urban and rural areas, high and low incomes, affect the decision to breastfeed.

The exclusive breastfeeding rate of infants aged 0 to 3 months decreased with the increase of age within 6 months. The national exclusive breastfeeding rate was 30.1% at 0 months of age, and 24.8% at 0 to 3 months of age.

The rates in urban and rural areas were 25.0% and 24.6%, respectively, with no statistical difference between urban and rural areas;

The exclusive breastfeeding rate at 4 months of age dropped significantly to 17.7%, and the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 5 months of age dropped to 12.6%.

The exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants aged 4 to 5 months was 15.2%, which was significantly lower in urban areas (12.8%) than in rural areas (18.4%).

With the improvement of economic level, the breastfeeding rate has shown a downward trend. The exclusive breastfeeding rate of families with an annual per capita income of less than 10,000 yuan is 23.3%, which is higher than that of people with an annual per capita income of more than 10,000 yuan, especially in rural areas.

The exclusive breastfeeding rate was highest among mothers with a bachelor's degree or above (23.2%), while the exclusive breastfeeding rate was lowest among mothers with a college degree or above (15.5%).

2. What factors influence the decision to breastfeed? The individual or the family?

In fact, there are many factors that affect a family's decision to breastfeed. Income, education, and whether or not a child is employed can only reflect one aspect of the problem. We can only reflect very little with data.

But a mother's determination to breastfeed is definitely inseparable from the support of her family.

But the level of family support is higher or lower which cannot be assessed numerically.

Therefore, I think that in addition to the mother's own understanding and acceptance of breastfeeding, the factors that influence whether a mother can persist in breastfeeding are more about the support and encouragement from the whole family.

Of course, it is also inseparable from the support and friendly treatment of breastfeeding from friends and society.

Therefore, improving the breastfeeding rate is a topic that the whole society should pay attention to and strongly support.

3. What can dads do to improve breastfeeding?

First of all, I think emotional support, affirmation and love for mothers are essential. Now looking back at my parenting process, my husband has given me sufficient emotional value and positive emotional guidance.

When I wanted to give up because of mastitis and fever and pain, he did not force me, but tried to help me find a good lactation consultant and specialist to solve my pain first, so that I could calmly deal with the decision I had to make.

Secondly, the father must be able to help the mother to bear the pressure. Many mothers who have experienced it have the most say about how hard it is for mothers to breastfeed.

Strange looks or ridicule from leaders or colleagues at work;

Embarrassment caused by breast engorgement due to meetings or busy schedules;

the heavy burden of the daily commute;

Lack of understanding and support from the elders at home...etc., every breastfeeding mother has had such experiences to some extent.

This is why it is more crucial for the father to stand up at the first moment, speak more, support the mother's decision, affirm the mother's efforts, and help the mother block out inappropriate voices.

Finally, I think dads should also provide plenty of love and hugs, because the happiness of a small family comes from the joint efforts of both dad and mom.

Let’s keep breastfeeding!