World Breastfeeding Week 1-7/8/2025: Foundation for child health

Doctor of Phuong Bac General Hospital consults nutrition for postpartum women.

In 2025, with the theme “Prioritizing Breastfeeding - Building a Sustainable Support System”, the week aims to carry out activities to raise awareness about the role of breast milk for young children. At the same time, it promotes the significance of breastfeeding for environmental protection as breast milk does not require complicated production, packaging or transportation processes, significantly reducing the amount of waste released into the environment.

From the first drops of colostrum, babies are given the purest dose of natural vaccine. Breast milk not only provides all the necessary nutrients for babies but also adds natural immunity to help protect them in the first years of life. According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet, Head of the Nutrition Department, Provincial Center for Disease Control, breast milk contains the full amount of fat, sugar, water, protein and minerals necessary for the growth and development of children. Breast milk is also different from formula milk in one special way: it can change to adapt to the nutritional needs of children according to each age as well as each stage of development. Breast milk also contains necessary antibodies to help protect children from some common diseases. In addition, many studies have shown that breastfed babies have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as being less overweight and obese.

Breast milk not only has great benefits for newborns but also brings many positive benefits to postpartum mothers. Doctor CK II Le Minh Hai, Deputy Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Provincial General Hospital shared that postpartum mothers who breastfeed regularly will stimulate the release of oxytocin, helping the uterus contract, recover quickly and reduce postpartum bleeding. Breastfeeding also helps mothers quickly regain their postpartum figure, while reducing the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding also helps strengthen the mother-child bond, increases positive emotions, and helps reduce postpartum depression in mothers.

In Tuyen Quang every year, in response to Breastfeeding Week, the Department of Health also carries out extensive communication activities. At the same time, it integrates solutions to take care of the health of mothers and children; prevent malnutrition for children in mountainous areas and ethnic minority areas. Many communes such as Na Hang, Hong Thai, Lung Cu, Dong Van, Xin Man... have been supervised and provided with professional support so that doctors and nurses at health stations can provide advice on breastfeeding, safe motherhood, and contraceptive measures; provide training and pre- and post-natal care for midwives and village health workers...

World Breastfeeding Week is also an opportunity for the community to look back at the value of breast milk in laying the foundation for a healthy generation. From there, mobilize a sustainable support system including friendly medical services, understanding and sharing families, respect and support from society, and the participation of the health sector in encouraging breastfeeding from the first years of life.

Article and photos: Thuy Le

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202508/tuan-le-the-gioi-nuoi-con-bang-sua-me-1-den-782025-nen-tang-suc-khoe-cho-tre-1567d38/