By Dr. Swetha , Consultant Gynaecologist KIMS Saveera Hospital Anantapur
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. Breastfeeding promotes better health for mothers and children alike. Human milk is species-specific and all substitute feeding preparations differ markedly from it, making human milk uniquely superior for infant feeding.
WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is 6 months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or beyond. The baby should be breastfed in the first hour after birth which is also known as the ‘golden hour’. Colostrum or the mother’s first milk is the optimal nutrient and the first vaccine of the baby. Packed with energy, it helps in the growth and development of the baby.
Benefits of breastfeeding
After hours of labor, a woman becomes a mother when she gives birth to her baby. The arduous 9- month wait is now over, and the nurse carefully places the newborn on the mother’s chest for skin-to skin contact. This process is considered crucial as the first mother-child contact promotes a bond between the two. Moreover, it reduces the baby from crying and initiates breastfeeding.
Breast milk is always fresh, perfectly clean, just the right temperature and healthy choice for the newborn at the least cost. The composition of breastmilk changes from time to time according to the needs of the infant Helps in easy digestion especially for premature babies Exclusively Breastfed babies have stronger immune system, improved brain maturation and are less likely to suffer from diarrhea and sickness, gastroenteritis, colds and flu, ear and chest infections. The other benefits of breastfeeding include enabling sensory and cognitive development, protecting the infant against diseases and reducing infant mortality by allowing quicker recovery from illnesses like Diarrhea and pneumonia. Furthermore, for the first six months of the baby’s lives, this form of food should be the exclusive diet i.e. no food, no water, just breast milk. However, oral rehydration salts (ORS), drops and syrups of minerals, vitamins and medicines are allowed. Post this time frame; a healthy meal should complement breastfeeding Breastfeeding helps mothers both physically and emotionally. It produces the naturally soothing hormones oxytocin and prolactin that promotes stress reduction and positive feelings in the nursing mother. Physical and emotional bonding between mother and child is increased.
Breastfeeding helps lose pregnancy weight, gives natural birth control protection, and helps in birth spacing. Breastfeeding also reduces the risks of breast and ovarian cancers, lowers risk of obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, osteoporosis, hypertension in mothers
ABC’s of breastfeeding
A- Awareness. Watch your baby signs of hunger and breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry, also called “on demand feeding”. hungry infants move their hands towards mouth, make sucking noises or mouth movements or move towards mothers breast
B- Be patient. Breastfeed as long as your baby wants to nurse each time.dont hurry. Infants Typically breastfeed for 10-20minutes on each breast
C- Comfort. Is the key. Relax while breastfeeding and your milk is more likely to “let down “and flow. Get yourself comfortable with pillows as needed to support your arms, head and neck, and a footrest to support feet and legs before you begin to breastfeed
A Mothers health
However, just feeding the baby and safeguarding those from probable infections is not enough. It is equally essential for the mother to eat healthy to provide the child and herself with the necessary nourishment. This habit of eating right should be initiated even before being pregnant to ensure the body has the vital micronutrients as the inability to do so can cause deficiencies like Vitamin D, B12, and iron, that is then passed on to the baby.
Hence, a breastfed child lacking Vitamin D, should either be provided with supplemental or be given sufficient sunlight exposure. As per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all breastfed infants should receive a daily supplement of 400 international units of vitamin D, beginning soon after birth. For a nursing woman to be self-sufficient to provide this essential nutrient, she would need a daily intake of over 600 international units from diet or supplements.
Furthermore, anemic mothers risk their babies having weak fetal growth in the womb, sufficient intake of iron is necessary to make hemoglobin and neurological development during early childhood. As per AAP, most children have four moths iron stored in their bodies. But as breast milk does not contain enough of it, the child should be given 1 milligram for each kilogram of body weight each day, at four months, after a doctor’s consultation.
B12, another prevalent scarcity found in women adversely affects a child’s development. Vitamin B12 is most commonly found in foods from animals, therefore breastfeeding mothers who are vegetarian or on a vegan diet should consult a doctor for possible supplements to overcome this deficiency. Though there is no specific diet, eating healthy and balanced is the mantra for the new mothers. It means intake of fruits, green and leafy vegetables, proteins, wholegrain, nuts and seeds. The mothers should also keep themselves hydrated by drinking water or liquids like milk and fresh fruit Thus, even though breast milk is a complete food for newborns with healthy mothers, if the mother has nutritional deficiencies herself, the baby may need supplementation of a few important micronutrients .
COVID 19 and breastfeedingWHO recommends that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID 19 should be encouraged to initiate or continue breastfeeding?
Mother and infant should be enabled to remain together while rooming-in throughout the day and night and practice skin to skin contact, including kangaroo mother care, especially immediately after birth and while breastfeeding irrespective of covid 19 status Precautions recommended are.Wash your hands before touching the babyWear a cloth face covering, if possible, while breastfeedingWash your hands before touching bottle parts or breast pumps and clean all parts after each useAvoid coughing or sneezing onto babyBreastfeeding is nature’s health plan.
“While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is best choice for every baby”
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
