-Sagar Parajuli

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. This year the World Breastfeeding week is being celebrated with the slogan “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”. This theme/slogan was chosen to focus on supporting both parents to be empowered is vital in order to realise their breastfeeding goals.

However, in breastfeeding and child care is often considered as a woman’s job in the society like ours. Being a man, I feel that it is always equally important for male members of family or society to act responsibly towards breastfeeding practices. Fathers should hold equal responsibility for healthy breastfeeding for their babies and so should the brother, father-in law and uncle.

For me, male breastfeeding means being equally responsible for growth and development of babies. It is important for male members of society to know about breastfeeding, importance of breastfeeding, times and frequency of breastfeeding, position and attachment for healthy breastfeeding.

Male Breastfeeding is all about supporting for healthy breastfeeding relationship between mother and babies and creating friendly environment for breastfeeding practices. So, aligning with this year’s theme, I want to call upon all the people, primary the men to advocate, engage and support for healthy breastfeeding. Here are some key points that I wish to share as a promoter and supporter of Male Breastfeeding.

Promote and Act for 3Es of BreastFeeding 
1. Early Initiation of Breastfeeding within 1 hours of Birth to make sure baby receives colostrum feeding. It is nutritious, healthy and first vaccine for the baby.
2. Exclusive Breastfeeding for six months. No water or any solid foods is required till that baby reaches six months of age.
3. Extended Breastfeeding upto 2 years of baby. 
Note: Mother should have nutritious and sufficient diet, supportive environment and sound mental health for sufficient secretion of breast milk.
So ADVOCATE- PROMOTE- LEAD- ACT-ENGAGE
Let’s together Promote Healthy Breastfeeding!
#MaleforBreastFeeding #MaleBreastfeeding #ActforBreastfeeding
#BreastfeedingFriendlyHome#BreastfeedingSpace
#BeingResponsibleFather