Forbes: Lagging Worldwide Breastfeeding Rates Keep Newborn Lives At Risk
“About half of all newborns across the world do not begin breastfeeding within an hour after they enter the world even while overall early breastfeeding rates have been increasing, found a new report from UNICEF ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7…” (Haelle, 7/29).

U.N. News Centre: Breastfeeding within hour of birth provides baby’s ‘first vaccine,’ says UNICEF
“…According to the agency, delaying breastfeeding by two to 23 hours after birth increases the risk of dying in the first 28 days of life by 40 percent. Delaying it by 24 hours or more increases that risk to 80 percent. ‘Early breastfeeding can make the difference between life and death,’ France Bégin, UNICEF senior nutrition adviser, said [Friday] in a press release…” (7/29).

VOA News: UNICEF: Mother’s Milk Best For Newborn Babies
“…To mark World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) are calling for newborns to be breastfed exclusively for six months. UNICEF says newborns should be breastfed within the first hour of life. This provides them with the essential nutrients, antibodies, and skin-to-skin contact with their mother that protects them from disease and death…” (Schlein, 8/1).