Ignorance about breast-freeding lamented<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: A government official said on Friday that almost half
\nof the new mothers in this country failed to breast-feed their
\nbabies exclusively.<\/p>\n
Director General of Public Health Development Azrul Azwar said
\nthe latest demographic and health survey found that only 52
\npercent of mothers complied with the government's call for
\nbreast-feeding their babies exclusively until they were four
\nmonths old.<\/p>\n
He said breast milk was recommendable as it contains docosa
\nhexaaenoat (DHA), a substance which is necessary for brain
\ndevelopment and that produces antigens to improve immunity during
\nchildren's early growth period.<\/p>\n
\"Mothers should not give supplementary food to babies under
\nfour months old because the extra nutrition will adversely affect
\nthe absorption of breast milk,\" Azwar told Antara.<\/p>\n
Since 1990, the World Health Organization has dedicated every
\nAugust to a global campaign raising awareness of the benefits of
\nbreast-feeding.<\/p>\n
Separately, nutritionist Muhilal expressed his concern over
\nthe misleading advertisements of most powdered milk brands, which
\nclaim to contain DHA and therefore could replace breast milk.<\/p>\n
Muhilal, who chairs the Bogor-based Center for Nutrition and
\nFood Research and Development, said powdered milk, which
\noriginates from cow's milk, could not match breast milk. Cow's
\nmilk and breast milk are different in chemical composition, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
He said powdered milk could have DHA added, but it easily
\ndeteriorates.<\/p>\n
\"DHA in breast milk works well because the milk is always
\nfresh,\" Muhilal said.<\/p>\n
He said that most human brain cells, probably up to 90
\npercent, were formed before a baby was born. The rest, he added,
\nwould grow within the next two years.<\/p>\n
\"Babies need breast milk because they are supposed to grow up
\nto be thinkers, while calves are expected to grow only in
\nstrength,\" Muhilal said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ignorance-about-breast-freeding-lamented-1447893297",
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