Happy Breastfeeding Week 2010

i hope it's not too late to wish all of you a Happy Breastfeeding Week 2010, which is celebrated every year on the 1st week of August....

the theme for this year, "Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps- the Baby-Friendly Way"...

it is well known that research shows that the best feeding option globally is the initiation of breastfeeding within the first half hour of life, exclusive breastfeeding for a full six months and continued breastfeeding through the second year or beyond... breastfeeding improves short and long term maternal and child health thus contributing to a happy, healthy nation...

UNICEF recently noted that the reduction of child deaths from 13 million globally in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008 is partly due to the adoption of basic health interventions such as early and exclusive breastfeeding...more and more studies have shown that implementation of the Ten Steps with continued postnatal support contributes to increased breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding at the local, national and global levels....

Recent studies have shown that with more of the Ten Steps in place, the more likely women are to achieve their breastfeeding goals... this confirms that importance for every maternity, hospital, clinic and community to strive to increase the number of steps in place, even if they cannot achieve all ten steps immediately...therefore every step counts!

*adapted from WABA WBW2010

my little Imtiaz is still fully breastfeeding..in fact, he is reverse cycling now....he refused to drink the expressed breastmilk during the day or when i'm away...so he'll wait for me to come back and get hold to my boops till he finishes his business....at night, he just won't get off me at all....

i really treasure every moment with him now...especially when he is breastfeeding and looks into my eyes and gives me his charming smile, with his hands exploring all parts of my face and upper body....this moment will soon wear off, eventually.....

he is thriving well, active and healthy...and he loves mama's milk so much!