World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated every year in the first week of August, is a time to raise awareness and support for breastfeeding.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that babies should start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first six months.

Breastfeeding is a natural and vital process that provides infants with the nutrients and antibodies they need for healthy growth and a strong immune system – it has a profound impact on child health and survival rates, according to Dieudonne Bukaba, a nutrition expert in Kigali.

Many African communities have a rich tradition of knowledge and practices that support and promote successful breastfeeding, passing down wisdom through generations to ensure children are nurtured and cared for in the best possible way, Bukaba noted.

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Bukaba added that to ensure effective breastfeeding, it is essential to start early within the first hour after birth.

"Ensure that your baby latches onto the breast correctly to avoid pain and establish an effective feeding,” he stressed.

Bukaba recommends breastfeeding often, on demand, and whenever the baby is hungry and finding a comfortable position for both the mother and the baby. He also advises mothers to drink plenty of fluids and eat a balanced diet to maintain milk supply, and most importantly, seek support from lactation consultants, healthcare providers, or breastfeeding support groups if needed.

"Monitor the baby’s growth by keeping an eye on their weight gain and diaper output to ensure they are feeding well,” Bukaba added.

Claudine Umulisa, a nutritionist and dietician in Kigali, emphasized that breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival.

"It is one of the best investments nations can make in the lives and futures of their youngest members—and in the long-term strength of their societies,” she said.

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The breastfeeding process which begins during pregnancy is triggered by various hormones, and continues as long as the breasts receive the appropriate stimuli, Umulisa added.

She stressed that by the time a pregnancy reaches full term, levels of prolactin—a hormone responsible for stimulating milk production, are about 10 times higher than at the beginning of pregnancy. The first substance released from the breasts is colostrum, often referred to as pre-milk or first milk. Colostrum is a thick, yellowish fluid produced in the first one to three days after birth.

Colostrum is rich in nutrients, antibodies, and immune system cells that protect the newborn from gastrointestinal diseases and infections, supporting the infant’s developing immune system, she added.

A supportive environment makes a difference

"We recommend that all mothers breastfeed their babies immediately after birth and continue exclusively breastfeeding until the baby is six months old. After introducing complementary foods, mothers should continue breastfeeding until the child is at least two years old, or even longer, if possible,” Umulisa advised.

She noted that new mothers often feel anxious and unsure about breastfeeding, particularly concerned about whether they can provide enough milk for their babies. Misinformation and myths, she said, can also discourage breastfeeding. Successful breastfeeding requires mothers to be relaxed, get plenty of rest, eat nutritious foods, and breastfeed frequently to stimulate milk production, she added.

Umulisa said: "Successful breastfeeding requires support from everyone involved—fathers, families, healthcare professionals, community workers, colleagues, and society as a whole.

"Stress and frustration can interfere with hormone production, reducing milk supply and potentially leading to difficulties in breastfeeding. A supportive environment can make a significant difference in helping mothers confidently breastfeed their babies.”

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According to WHO, several key practices are essential to ensure successful breastfeeding outcomes. These include full compliance with the international code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes, and having a written infant feeding policy that is routinely communicated to both staff and parents.

The UN’s health agency highlights the importance of staff having sufficient knowledge, competence, and skills to support breastfeeding, stressing that it is crucial to discuss the significance and management of breastfeeding with pregnant women and their families. It also advocates for facilitating immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact after birth and supporting mothers to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible.

As noted, mothers should be supported in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding and managing common difficulties. Breastfed newborns should not be given any food or fluids other than breast milk unless medically indicated, according to WHO.

The agency recommends supporting mothers and their infants to remain together and practice rooming-in 24 hours a day. Rooming-in is an arrangement in a hospital whereby a newborn infant is kept in a crib at the mother’s bedside.

Additionally, WHO advises helping mothers to recognize and respond to their infants’ feeding signs, providing counselling on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats, and pacifiers, and coordinating discharge to ensure that parents and their infants have timely access to ongoing support and care.