Most babies not breastfed immediately after birth, threatening lives

Three in five babies are not breastfed during the first hour of birth, putting them at higher risk of disease or death, according to a joint report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

Global health officials are urging greater uptake of breast feeding shortly after birth because it helps boost a baby’s immune system, because breastmilk is rich in nutrients and antibodies. This is considered particularly critical in parts of the world that lack clean water.