VOA标准英语2013--Report: Superfood for Babies

 

Report: Superfood for Babies

A new report says more than 800,000 babies’ lives could be saved every year, if all women began breastfeeding within the first hour of giving birth. Save the Children calls breastfeeding one of the best ways to prevent malnutrition¹, a major killer² of children under age five.

Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles says it’s vital to begin breastfeeding soon after a child is born.

“It’s extremely critical because to get mothers to actually start breastfeeding can sometimes be the hardest part. And that first milk from mothers, that contains something called colostrum, is an incredibly nutritious³ form of breast milk and it actually has a lot of immunity⁴ powers, as well. And it really only happens in those first couple of hours,” she said.

The report describes colostrum as a child’s “first immunization.” But in some cultures, such as parts of Niger, there’s a myth that colostrum is dangerous.

“One of the biggest barriers that we found, when we looked at this report, to moms’ breastfeeding, is a lot of these cultural beliefs and one of them is that colostrum is, in fact, bad for babies. So, in a lot of places around the world the mothers actually throw it out. And it’s the best thing that you could be giving to your babies. So a lot of this is about behavior change. And those are just old traditions that have been passed down and things that we’re trying to change, obviously,” said Miles.

Many mothers believe their babies need to eat something besides breast milk. Miles said that water, sugar water and tea are not necessary.

“Actually babies don’t need any of those things. To demonstrate this we asked people to watch their animals. Watch the fact that baby animals don’t drink water. They just drink mother’s milk. It’s just the same with human babies. They don’t need anything but breast milk,” she said.

There’s another reason, she said, to start breastfeeding early.

“The earlier moms start breastfeeding the more likely they are to continue breastfeeding for the first six months. And that has tremendous health benefits for babies,” she said.

The head of Save the Children said another obstacle to breastfeeding is a shortage of healthcare workers in developing countries.

“When I went and had my baby at the hospital I had somebody helping⁵ me learn how to breastfeed. It’s not the easiest thing in the world. It’s very helpful to have somebody help you learn how to do that. These health workers, with basic knowledge, are really important to help moms start breastfeeding and to keep breastfeeding.”

The report, Super Food for Babies, recommends that every country should ensure minimum maternity⁶ leave of at least 14 weeks. And when women do return to work, they should receive support so they can continue to breastfeed.

Miles said that an additional obstacle to breastfeeding is the lobbying practices of some companies that manufacture baby formulas. She said the International Code of Marketing⁷ Breast Milk Substitutes says companies cannot directly target their advertising⁸ campaigns to mothers, health care workers or hospitals.

She said that great strides have been made in recent years in efforts to reduce child mortality. She says even more lives could be saved if many more women breastfed their babies. 

1 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

2 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

3 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

4 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 maternity   

n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的

参考例句：

• Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
• Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。