Urgency of Breastfeeding Promotion in Climate Crisis

The Lancet Countdown 2018 on Climate Change has brought extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires, leading to health problems such as anemia, eclampsia, low birth weight, preterm birth, and even miscarriage.[1] The key threats to health are water-related illnesses, food system impacts, heat illnesses, respiratory illnesses, insect-related diseases, and mental health effects. Climate shocks such as floods and droughts, destroy crops, leading to widespread hunger with decreasing food availability and dietary diversity. It affects pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women of tribal areas, low-income groups, and certain immigrant groups. The evidence is emerging about the effect of climate crisis on pregnant women, and their developing fetus, which will have long-term impact not only on the present generations but also on future generations. In natural disaster contexts and the global climate crisis, facilitation of optimal infant and young child feeding and increasing women’s knowledge of optimal breastfeeding is the ideal solution.[2] The urgency of breastfeeding supports as an important policy should be recognized and can be solution for climate change and the global health crisis.[3] Climate and health of human beings are very closely related. The recent climate crisis is not only the topic of discussion but also the need of the hour. Globally, it is highlighted as a public health crisis. The first and the best food that the baby should receive should be breast milk, which will help in brain development. Still, there are many barriers to breastfeeding within the food system.[4] The study of the impact of breastfeeding on sustainability and climate change creates evidence of the positive effect of breastfeeding on infant and maternal health with 0 waste and raises global concern about environmental damage by infant and toddler formulas.[5] The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics has brought the position statement about the Reproductive Health Impacts of Exposure to Toxic Environmental Chemicals in 2020 and recommended that the climate crisis is a global emergency. All health-care providers take it seriously by creating evidence by research and get actively involved in education and advocacy related to awareness and actions for change. The environment affects infant nutrition, and climate change results in food insecurity. To address global health, we must first focus on maternal and child nutrition.[6] One of them is mental health, which affects maternal and pregnancy outcomes. The traumatic experiences with perinatal common mental disorder (PCMD) and postpartum depression affect breast milk feeding practices and the neurodevelopment of the child. We need to develop a holistic approach to improve this issue.[7] Minimum global breastfeeding targets can save more emissions than renewable gas usage to displace natural gas in the production of breast milk substitutes in Ireland. A key recommendation is to position breastfeeding support for mitigating climate change as both a public health and a climate justice issue.[8] The experience from Honduras, Pakistan, and the USA highlights the importance of breastfeeding for food security across diverse global settings. The present climate crisis, global inequality, and experience of the pandemic bring out key challenges that threaten breastfeeding.[9] Dairy and baby food has a significant and harmful environmental impact. Breastfeeding support and protection are a key to developing sustainable first-food systems for maternal and child health benefits.[10] The study on climate change and the potential effects on maternal and pregnancy outcomes, published by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, USA, links traumatic experiences with PCMD and postpartum depression, leading to low-birth-weight baby, which increased risk for infant mortality. Climate change due to disasters affects access to health care, leading to negative mental health outcomes. The mental stress results in substance use, poor nutrition, and reduction in breastfeeding.[11] We must have an integrated approach to improve maternal mental health and well-being. To reduce impacts of climate change on their health create a plan for natural disasters and other emergencies, take care of emotional health, and protect from indoor air pollution. Climate change poses a threat to our future generations. We must protect our mothers and children with bold climate action. Effective and responsive breastfeeding practices are important for the brain and physical development of the child. The evidence is pointing toward adverse effects of climate change on breastfeeding practices and the quality and quantity of breast milk. Hence is the urgency for promotion of breastfeeding practices as a sustainable solution for the climate crisis. Let us act fast to prevent tragedies. Promote breastfeeding for the best mental and physical health of children, which is fixed deposit for future generations to come. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.