TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         i

Certification      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       ii

Dedication –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       iii

Certification      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       iv

Acknowledgements    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       v

Table of Contents       –       –       –       –       –       –       –    vi-viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION        –       –       –       1-2

CHAPTER TWO: OVERVIEW OF BREASTFEEDING

2.1    History of Breastfeeding     –       –       –       –       –       3-4

2.2    Breastfeeding    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       4-6

2.3    Characteristics of Breast Milk     –       –       –       –       6

2.3.1 Infant’s First Milk      –       –       –       –       –       –       6-7

2.3.2 Transition Milk –       –       –       –       –       –       –       7

2.3.3 Mature Milk      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       8-9

2.4    Composition of Breast Milk        –       –       –       –       9

2.5    Breast Feeding Practice      –       –       –       –       –    10-11

2.6 Prevalence of Breastfeeding –       –       –       –    11

CHAPTER THREE: EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING

3.0.1 Expressed Breast Milk        –       –       –       –       –    12-13

3.1    Controversies and Contraindication to Exclusive Breastfeeding    –       –       –       –       –       –       –            13-14

3.2    Factors Affecting Exclusive Breastfeeding   –       –     14-15

3.2.1 Breast Engorgement   –       –       –       –       –       –     15

3.2.2 Sore Nipples Trauma –       –       –       –       –       –      15-16

3.2.3 Insufficient of Milk    –       –       –       –       –       –      16-17

3.3    Effect of Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Mother    –       17-20

3.4    Health Benefit of Exclusive Breastfeeding

of Infant    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –      21-23

CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

4.1    Summary  –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –

4.2    Conclusion        –       –       –       –       –       –       –

References

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health and development of children to their full potential (WHO, 2009). It has been recognized as worldwide that breastfeeding in beneficial for both mother and child, as breast milk is considered the best source of nutrition for an infant (Ku and Chow, 2010).

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfeed for six months, followed by breastfeeding along with complementary food for up to two years of age or beyond (Hanit, 2011). Exclusive breastfeeding can be defined as a practice whereby the infants receives only breast milk without mixing it with water other liquid like tea, herbal preparation or food in the first six months of life with the exception of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicine (Nkala and Msuya, 2011).

Breastfeeding an infant exclusively for the first 6 months of life carries numerous benefits such as lowered risk of gastrointestinal infection Pneumonia, otitis media and urinary tract infection in the infant while mother return to her pre-pregnancy weight very rapidly and have a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes (WHO, 2011).

Moreover, studies have shown that many mothers find it difficult to meet personal goal and to adhere to the expert recommendation for continued and exclusive breastfeeding despite increase rate of initiation. Some of the major factors that affect exclusively and duration of breastfeeding include breast problem such as sore nipple or mother’s perception of producing inadequate milk (Nkala and Msuya, 2011). The major point in advocating exclusive breastfeeding is to avoid diarrhea and other related disease capable of affecting the lives of the infants easily. Should be proud to carry an infant who looks health and how exclusive breastfed create a rewarding opportunity for interaction between the mother and her child.