Breastfeeding is the most environmentally friendly way to feed your baby. Breast milk is a renewable resource. No plastic bottles that will end up in landfill one day, no energy needed to produce plastic bottles and formula milk, no inefficient land use and methane produced by cows, and the only energy used is your own. Forget that sterilising paraphernalia, and having to haul bags of feeding equipment around. Breasts are not only attached to you so you can’t forget them, they serve up the perfect food for your baby, at the perfect temperature, no matter where you are.
What better time to draw attention to breastfeeding than on the first day of World Breastfeeding Week:
Initiation of breastfeeding within the 1st hour of birth is the first and most vital step towards reducing infant and under-five mortality, by reducing the overwhelmingly high neonatal mortality rate. Save ONE million babies – beginning with one action, one hour support and one message: beginning breastfeeding within the 1st hour of birth!
Breastfeeding is not only beneficial to the environment, there are big benefits for babies and mothers too:
- 1. The mother’s antibodies will protect the baby from illness.
- 2. Breastfed babies are less likely to have allergies.
- 3. Breastfeeding reduces the rates of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in mothers.
- 4. Breastfeeding saves time.
- 5. Mothers who breastfeed lose weight more quickly after giving birth.
If you’re breastfeeding, be proud that you’re giving your baby the vest best start in life, while helping to reduce damage to our planet. Wear a Lactivist t-shirt and promote breastfeeding.
via Activist Mommy
Photo credit: Carin