In a world brimming with technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs, it is time to return to the fundamentals of nutrition during this celebrated Nutrition Week. Dr Heather Legodi, Head of Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Pretoria, calls upon us all to revisit a practice as old as humanity itself: breastfeeding.

As we celebrate nutrition week, let us go back to basics, let us go back to laying the proper foundation. We all know breast milk is the best foundation for babies, short and long term. There is no doubt that breastfeeding is an environmentally responsible decision and very cost effective for families, unless there is a medical condition that prohibits it. Even with the known benefits, breastfeeding rates are alarmingly low in South Africa. Most mothers are not able to implement the recommendation of breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of the infant’s life.

Unfortunately, the responsibility to breastfeed is mostly carried by the mother. And to the important question ‘Who is responsible for the exclusive breastfeeding of the infant for the first six months of life?’, most of us would say it is obviously the mother. However, this practice cannot happen is isolation, the successful feeding of the baby is a family and community affair.

Mothers need a supportive and present partner and family to motivate and help with making nutritious food available as well as management of chores so that mom can rest when the baby sleeps and is able to breastfeed on demand. She needs a family to assist with breastmilk expression and proper storage so that the baby can be fed when the mother is away or sleeping. She also needs family and friends to motivate her and help take care of the baby without having to hide away in order to breastfeed. Supportive friends also have a responsibility to create a comfortable and relaxed social environment for the mother to breastfeed anywhere when the baby demands.

The public and social spaces need to also accommodate and empower mothers without them having to go to restrooms in order to breastfeed. More feeding rooms should be made available to mothers. Employers also need to be intentional in offering support when the mother needs to take breaks to express breast milk and also provide proper facilities for milk storage.

Day care centres need to also be equipped to safely store and administer expressed breast milk from the mothers. The baby depends on all of us to play our part.

Breastfeeding is also a cost saving practice in the current economy where families have to stretch their resources. It is also best for employers in the long term as healthy children mean less work time lost by their employees. It is also cost saving on the national medical bill as it reduces infant morbidity and mortality, allergies, time spent in hospital and, in the long term, the risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases.

Infant formula manufacturers are the only ones that ‘benefit’ from our children not receiving breast milk. Yes, for those with medical contraindications, formula is the next option. There is no argument against the assumption that, if they could, infants would say “give me what is best for my health now and in the future”. Breastfeeding also helps with bonding with the mother.

We cannot talk proper nutrition without laying the proper foundation; and breastfeeding cannot be carried out successfully without support from all of us.

Dr Heather Legodi is Head of the Department of Human Nutrition in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria. South Africa commemorates National Nutrition Week annually during the second week of October.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Pretoria.