Well begun is half done

Breastfeeding is a universally accepted means of optimal nutrition that promotes a baby best survival, growth and development. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age, or beyond, with adequate complementary feeds. While emotional support by family, society or hospital or government policies are crucial, initiation and establishing of breastfeeding can be severely impacted by two things:

(i) How breastfeeding is planned during conception, and,

(ii) How the birth has been supported Breastfeeding can be a powerful and compelling experience for a mother and her family, no matter how different their conception experience maybe — natural, assisted such as