Exclusive breastfeeding: the long distance between discourse and practice

The article by Hiranmayi et al recently published in this journal, allows us to revive the discussion on a topic of extreme importance for the health of both mother and child, especially when it comes to first-time mothers: exclusive breastfeeding. The study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of first-time mothers with children up to six months of age regarding infant feeding, particularly related to exclusive breastfeeding. Although 85% of participants were aware of the recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding, only 52.2% practiced it, highlighting barriers such as the perception of insufficient milk supply, returning to work, and lack of support from family members or healthcare professionals.