The Importance Of Exclusive Breastfeeding For Infant Health

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding is a natural and biological function through which the mother provides the ideal nutrition for her infant during the first months of its life. The child’s relationship with the breast is an extension of its relationship with the umbilical cord, and throughout the different stages of human life, breastfeeding has been the vital method of nourishing the infant, as it is the only possibility for its survival. For this reason, it is recommended that the infant be exclusively breastfed in the first hours after birth in order to receive colostrum, which is rich in nutrients and antibodies that provide the infant with acquired immunity against most diseases. The practice of breastfeeding is not only a biological act, but also a behaviour with psychological, social and cultural dimensions and determinants. The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of exclusive breastfeeding as a characteristic for the maintenance of infant health, given the benefits and advantages it contains.