Exclusive breastfeeding: definition, timing, and benefits
THE CONTEXT
Breast milk provides all nutrients needed for optimum growth and development from birth to six months.
Definition and feeding schedule
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Exclusive breastfeeding means giving only breast milk; vitamin drops and medications are permitted when indicated.
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Initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth and continue exclusively for six months.
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Start complementary feeding after six months and continue breastfeeding for two years or as long as the mother wants.
Reported health benefits
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Exclusive breastfeeding for six months can reduce neonatal deaths by 20% and under-5 deaths by 13%.
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Exclusive breastfeeding reduces hospital admissions due to diarrhea by 72% and pneumonia by 57%.
Reported NFHS-5 data
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The source reports breastfeeding initiation within one hour in 41.8% and exclusive breastfeeding for six months in 64%, based on NFHS-5 data for 2019–20.