By Sudha Hariharan

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated to highlight the importance of breastfeeding and the crucial role it plays in the life of newborn babies and new mothers. This year’s theme is : “ Step Up For Breastfeeding: Educate & Support” WBW is celebrated every 1-7 August since 1992, with annual themes including healthcare systems, women and work and , has a recognized status in over 120 countries today.  

India ranks the lowest in breastfeeding practices among South Asian countries—-. Only 44 per cent of women are able to breastfeed their newborns within an hour of birth and only 55 percent of all babies born in India receive breastmilk exclusively in the first six months. Lack of support from a woman’s family, and proper information are some factors contributing to the falling rates of breastfeeding .Hence despite a rise in deliveries, rate of breastfeeding is falling as more and more mums are switching to breast milk substitutes.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), increasing breastfeeding to near-international levels will help in saving more than 8,00,000 lives every year, the majority being children under six months. Apart from supplying all the necessary nutrients in the right proportions, it protects against allergies, sickness and obesity as well as diseases like Type II Diabetes and Cancer. Moreover it is easily digested and promotes healthy growth of the baby.

The icing on the cake is that breastfed babies score higher in IQ tests. I bet you didn’t know milk changes in volume and composition according to the time of day, nursing frequency, and age of baby. The first 30 days are crucial as this is the time when  you and your baby get acquainted with each other, your body learns to make enough milk and your baby learns to nurse well.

Obstetrics & Gynecological consultant Dr Gayathri D Kamath says, “Pregnancy and lactation are important milestones in the path of motherhood of a woman. Breastfeeding is the first milestone of the baby which paves the way for all future milestones. It is essential for a pregnant woman to understand that the physiological changes which ensue at the end of the ninth month make preparation for breastfeeding. The two primary hormones which play a pivotal role are oxytocin and prolactin. It is essential for lactating women to remain calm during the first few weeks of lactation. For the new-born it is a completely new experience, and one  needs to be patient till the learning curve is complete.”

Initiating the Journey towards motherhood

The initial few days after delivery, the new mother is likely to be going through the aches and pains of the labour process; added to that are sleepless nights which make many new mums distraught. Support from spouse and family are key factors responsible for overcoming this phase. Support can be rendered  by taking care of the baby after breastfeeding or by boosting the morale of the woman. Inputs from the senior community at home stating “milk production is not enough” or “while I was lactating I had so much milk that I didn’t go through any of these concerns” are statements which can completely shatter a lactating mother. 

During lactation, as the pregnancy hormones have been completely depleted, they are very sensitive to snide remarks and are prone to postpartum blues. The community around the lactating women should be supportive and encouraging and this will ensure that the new mum and baby gain confidence during the learning curve.

Tips to boost lactation

To establish milk production there is a need to  partake in a well-balanced diet with soups, milk, fruits, and vegetables. It is advisable to have at least 2.5 litres of water and to ensure the new mum gets adequate sleep.

The latching on process is exceedingly important. The new-born reflux makes the baby latch on to only the nipple. While doing it this way, the milk does not eject from the lacteal sinuses which are placed around three fourths at the outer circumference on the areola away from the nipple. The baby does not get any milk and mum gets a sore nipple. Establishing correct latching initially is the first step needed for successful breastfeeding. New mothers need to  be told while breastfeeding that three fourths of the areola (the black circumferential area around the nipple) should be thrust into the baby’s mouth before it begins to suck. If the correct latching on happens, sucking helps in milk getting into the baby’s mouth as the lacteal sinuses which are filled with milk  get emptied into the baby’s mouth by the act of sucking. The dietary substances which initiate milk production are called galactagogue. They include garlic, pepper, soups, and certain green, leafy vegetables. Ayurvedic preparations like shatavari are popularly recommended by lactation consultants.

Myths debunked

Myth: Breastfeeding  mothers are to consume loads of ghee and oily foodstuffs

Fact: It has no scientific basis. There is no need for the lactating mother to eat for two people. For adequate milk production one needs to consume just an extra 300 to 350 kilocalories per day which can be managed by having fruits like  bananas, oranges and nuts filled with healthy fats and antioxidants like walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pistachios or curds.

Myth: Restricting water consumption and making the lactating women wear warm woollen clothes even in the peak of summer.

Fact: These kinds of practices to be strictly avoided as a lactating woman gets dehydrated and besides not developing enough milk, she may even develop clots in her blood vessels.

The Right Posture

One of the crucial elements to discuss with all new mothers is to feed the baby in sitting postures till the learning process is established. There have been mishaps of babies being smothered by the breast without the mum’s knowledge. Burping a child after every breastfeed is an absolute must as the new-born has a short neck and milk from the stomach can just come up and get into the air passage and can cause fatal problems due to aspiration.

Most mothers also have doubts about how long they can feed the baby. It is advisable for all new young mums to breastfeed babies exclusively for four to six months and then with supplementary foods at least till the baby is one year old.

Does breastfeeding help with the cognitive development of my baby?

Breastfeeding enhances a baby’s emotional connection with its mother and its cognitive development. It aids in enhancing IQ, language ability, and memory retention. According to studies, memory performance, early language, and motor skills at 14 months and 18 months of age, are found to be positively associated with higher frequency of breastfed meals and the period of exclusive breastfeeding till the baby is one year.  There is some data to prove that breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma subsequently.

Breastfeeding is therapeutic for mothers in reducing their weight. Some calories are used up in the process and it makes them alert and agile that helps them bounce back to normalcy.

In conclusion, breastfeeding should be considered as a joyous experience by the mum and the baby. To ensure that it happens ,the mother should be in a happy mood and have had adequate rest and hydration. She could humour talk  to the baby and the time after breastfeeding is the best time to bond with the baby which remains throughout the lives  of both, mum and baby.