This study aims to find out whether breast feeding optimization will increase breast feeding rates and to evaluate its effect on cardiovascular risk and general health of children.

Breast feeding is suggested to give many benefits for babies and there are some initial prove that it might affect their future health, including the development of cardiovascular diseases. In Indonesia, breast feeding rates are very low, while there is a strong upsurge of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we propose to randomly allocate pregnant Indonesian women who plan to give breast feeding for no more than two months, to either care as usual or to a breast feeding empowerment program lasting to 6 months post partum. At the age of one year, all randomized offspring will undergo non-invasive echographic aortic vascular measurements and cardiovascular risk profiling. Measurements for assessing children's general health status will also be performed, including growth monitoring, repeated lung function test, and microbiomic sampling.

Inclusion criteria

• Plan to breast feed for ≤2 months
• Residing in vicinity ≤ 5 km from the hospital/agree to comply to health visit schedule
• Telephone communication is possible
• No known HIV or active tuberculosis in mother
• Uncomplicated pregnancy