Gyeonggi-do Health and Environment Research Institute, Breast Milk Nutrient Analysis Service

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment will conduct a pilot project this year to provide a breast milk nutrition component service.

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment Research will provide a breast milk component analysis service starting in July for mothers admitted to the 'Gyeonggi-do Public Postpartum Care Centers.' There are two such centers located in Yeoju and Pocheon.

The nutritional components provided to mothers include a total of 12 minerals: major minerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus) and trace minerals (cobalt, chromium, manganese, selenium, copper, iron, zinc).

The Institute of Health and Environment Research will conduct this as a pilot project this year, targeting 100 mothers.

Breast milk is known as the 'first food a baby encounters,' and breastfeeding not only fosters emotional bonding between mother and baby but also supports health and growth development.

However, according to the Korean Medical Science Journal (JKMS) published last year, the rate of 'exclusive breastfeeding'?feeding only breast milk for the first six months?dropped sharply in Korea from 42.8% in 2010?2012 to 13.1% in 2019?2020.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2017 that the global average rate of 'exclusive breastfeeding' is 41%. Both WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months for the health of both mother and child.

A representative from the Institute of Health and Environment Research stated, "We hope that this 'breast milk nutritional component analysis service' will provide mothers with the opportunity to check the nutritional components of their breast milk, which they are curious about, and thereby increase the practice rate of breastfeeding."