Kids' well-being best gift for moms

Mothers and children at all stages need support, although in different ways. Our staff and volunteers work with many pregnant women who do not realize the importance of regular prenatal check-ups. During and following birth, mothers, especially in remote rural areas can struggle to access essential support for delivery and new-born care. This poses huge risks, as the first month is the most risky period in a child's life. Ensuring that a properly trained and equipped health worker is within the reach of every child and its mother is the key to its survival and health.

Furthermore, we know that contact with trained health workers can be critical in assisting mothers to start their journey of breastfeeding, giving their babies the best start in life. Breastfeeding can provide a leg-up for poor and vulnerable children. Breast milk is widely regarded as the single best source of food and nutrients for any infant - breastfed babies have stronger immune systems and higher IQ levels, and are less likely to be malnourished and less susceptible to obesity and diabetes later in life than non-breastfed babies. Mothers who breastfeed their babies are less likely to die from post-partum hemorrhage or contract ovarian or breast cancer later in life.

We also find that mothers have limited understanding of how best to wean children and what constitutes an adequate diet for a small child. In China, one in every 10 children suffers from stunted growth; yet looking at disaggregated data, one in every five children in poor rural counties is stunted. This has as much to do with poverty as with lack of knowledge. As an interim measure, nutrition supplements have been shown to have a positive impact on communities where a high percentage of children suffer from stunted growth. But we also see that advice to parents on how best to provide a nutritious and affordable diet can be very effective.

Trained and equipped frontline health workers play a critical role in diagnosing and treating common childhood diseases (and global killers) such as diarrhea and pneumonia, preventing the tragedy of mistreatment from happening. We know from working with them that they want to do a good job, but often lack adequate training and supervision.

In both rural and migrant communities, early childhood care and development centers can become hubs for knowledge sharing among mothers as well as a safe place for young children to play and make friends.

All a mother wants is for her child to survive and thrive. This Mother's Day, Save the Children calls on families, communities, corporations and governments to give mothers the best gift they could ever ask for: a supportive environment for them to raise their children.

The author is country director of Save the Children China Program.