Breastfeeding within an hour of birth : Saves newborns

Thousands of newborn babies die every year in Ghana simply because the initiation of breastfeeding is delayed at birth. Delaying breastfeeding by two to 23 hours after birth increases the risk of a newborn dying within the first 28 days of life by 40 per cent. Delaying it further by 24 hours or more increases the risk of death by 80 per cent. During the normal process of birth, the newborn baby is delivered unto the mother’s abdomen, dried thoroughly and placed in skin-to-skin contact on the mother’s chest to initiate breastfeeding. Placing the baby in skin to skin contact with the mother does not only provide warmth but also helps with successful breastfeeding and protects the baby...