Breastfeeding

Obstetricians are ideally suited as care providers when starting and continuing the process of breastfeeding. Women are assisted therein by maternity assistants. Obstetricians are responsible for providing scientifically substantiated information about breastfeeding during pregnancy and when still confined. This enables the parents to make an informed choice about breastfeeding or formula feeding.

Breastfeeding offers major advantages for the health and development of the child, as well as the welfare of the mother. However, obstetricians respect the choice women make with regard to the manner in which they want to feed their baby and support them in that choice. This also applies if formula feeding is opted for!

The KNOV endorses the declarations of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF with regard to feeding babies and young children:

“Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers”.

Formula milk, as does breast milk, contains all the nutrition that a child needs. The difference, however, is that breast milk also contains immune substances. These substances play a role in providing protection against diseases.

The KNOV support the Care for Breastfeeding organisation, that accredits obstetric practices that pursue a breastfeeding-friendly policy.