It is well known that the benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond the basic nutrition needs for a newborn. If a mother feeds her baby only breast milk for the first six months after its birth, it can protect the baby against pneumonia, diarrhoea, malnutrition, allergies and chronic illnesses. It is also said that breastfed babies score higher in IQ tests. Breastfeeding contributes to the health and well-being of mothers also. In India, however, only 64.9 per cent infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months.
Benefits of breastfeeding
A healthier baby
Incidence of pneumonia, colds and viral infections are much less among breastfed babies.
Long-term protection
Breastfeed your baby and you reduce his risk of developing chronic conditions, such as Type I diabetes, Celiac disease and Crohn’s disease.
Stronger bones
Dr. Raj, gynaecologist and obstetrician, says “Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis. When a woman is pregnant and lactating, her body absorbs calcium much more efficiently,” he explains. “So, while some bones, particularly those in the spine and hips, may be a bit less dense at weaning, six months later, they are denser than before pregnancy.”
Fewer problems with weight
It’s more likely that neither of you will become obese if you breastfeed the baby.
A calorie incinerator
You may have heard that nursing burns up to 500 calories a day. And that’s almost right. “Breast milk contains 20 calories per 10 ml,” Dr Raj explains. “If you feed your baby 200 ml a day, that’s 400 calories you’ve swept out of your body.”
Better healing post delivery
The oxytocin released when your baby nurses helps your uterus contract, reducing postdelivery blood loss. Plus, breastfeeding will help your uterus return to its normal size more quickly—at about six weeks postpartum, compared with 10 weeks if you don’t breastfeed.
Less risk of cancer
Breastfeeding can decrease your baby’s risk of some childhood cancers. And you’ll have a lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Breastfeeding can lower breast cancer risk, especially if a woman breastfeeds for longer than one year. There are several reasons why breastfeeding protects breast health:
∙ Making milk 24/7 limits breast cells’ ability to misbehave
∙ Most women have fewer menstrual cycles when they’re breastfeeding (added to the nine missed periods during pregnancy) resulting in lower estrogen levels
∙ Many women tend to eat more nutritious foods and follow healthier lifestyles while breastfeeding
A custom-made baby food
Your breast milk morphs to meet your baby’s changing needs. Colostrum—the “premilk” that comes in after you deliver—is chock-full of antibodies to protect your newborn baby. “It’s also higher in protein and lower in sugar than ‘full’ milk, so even a small amount can hold off your baby’s hunger,” says Dr. Raj.
Full milk comes in usually three to four days after delivery and is higher in both sugar and volume than colostrum—again, just what your baby requires. Baby needs a lot of calories and frequent feedings to fuel his rapid growth and the mature milk is designed to be digested quickly.
It’s cheap
The cost of formula can range anywhere from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 4000 per month whereas breast milk is completely free.
Better friendships
Breastfeeding helps cultivate relationships with other moms. Whether it’s talking about parenting styles, nighttime feedings or engorgement, nursing allows women to forge positive postpartum relationships.
Barriers to breastfeeding
Breast milk is called liquid gold; it’s so precious that it’s hard to come by in some women. There are many reasons that can make it difficult for women to start and continue breastfeeding. Dr Rashmita Nayak, pediatrician, SCB Medical College, Cuttack said, “We know that some groups of women like younger women, particularly below 20 years, and uneducated women are less likely to breastfeed. There could be various causes for a limited supply of milk in a mother’s breast. A premature delivery, breast engorgement, or simply, low reserves of milk could prove to be obstacles to breastfeeding.”
Other barriers to breastfeeding are:
∙ Lack of knowledge
∙ Misconception that formula is equivalent
∙ Breastfeeding is not the social norm in many communities during the first seven days after delivery.
∙ Embarrassment about feeding in public
∙ Lactation problems
∙ Returning to work and accessing supportive childcare
∙ Policies and practices by some health services and health care providers
Dr Padhi, said, “With the right action, many of these barriers could be overcome. Try to eat well and drink enough fluids. There is no evidence that drinking extra fluids will increase your supply, but it’s important for moms to stay hydrated. Your diet doesn’t have to be perfect, but you do need to eat enough to keep yourself from being tired all the time. It is easy to get so overwhelmed with baby care that you forget to eat and drink enough. You need a minimum of 1,800 calories each day while you are lactating, and if you eat high quality foods and limit fats and sweets, you will usually lose weight more easily than a mother who is formula feeding, even without depriving yourself.”
Infant formula is a readily available option. But more people are trying to source breast milk from another mother as the nutritional and developmental value of breast milk becomes better known. Milk banking provides a safe source of breast milk in some cities like Pune, New Delhi and Bangalore, but greater accessibility is needed.
Milk Bank
Breast milk donation has been an age-old practice. In earlier times, a wet nurse (a woman, who would breastfeed a baby) used to breastfeed an unrelated infant directly. Today, this practice has been revolutionised by making it safer for the child and the donor. The breast milk is collected by milk banks and kept sterilised. The milk is collected by the donor herself using a breast pump, sometimes in the comfort of her house and sometimes at the bank. The milk then undergoes pasteurisation and is stored at a temperature of -20 degrees C. The entire procedure is carried out in a systematic manner and involves proper assessment and screening of the donor before collection. It is ensured that the donor’s health is not at stake. Mothers who lose their babies after birth can be active volunteers in breast milk donation.
Who Can Donate Milk?
∙ You are a good candidate if you’re a mother who is currently (or just recently) lactating and has surplus milk, and if you are:
∙ In good general health
∙ Willing to undergo a blood test (Test for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B or C, or Syphilis)
∙ Not regularly using medication or herbal supplements
∙ Willing to donate 100 ml of milk initially and continue pumping to donate as long as you are able
∙ Nursing an infant who is less than one year of age
∙ Bereaved or surrogate mothers are also eligible to donate
Milk Bank in Odisha
Dr Lina Das, in-charge, Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, said, “Breast milk banks play an important role in preserving the life of newborns who have lost their mothers as soon as they are born and babies who are premature or are born with diseases like short-gut syndrome, malabsorption or immune deficiencies.”
In a move that could go a long way in curbing infant mortality rate, the SCB Medical College and Hospital has decided to set up a first-of-its-kind mothers’ milk bank in the state. The milk can be stored at the bank for a period of three months, a source pointed out, adding the life-saving milk will help infants tackle a variety of critical conditions.
“A Lactation Management Centre will be opened at SCB’s Obstetrics & Gynaecology department which is nearing completion. Counselling sessions and guidance on breastfeeding will be imparted to lactating mothers, and the room connecting the SNCU has been chosen as the follow-up room. Lactating mothers will be made aware of the benefits of breastfeeding through short videos,” Dr Lina, who recently underwent a 15-day training session on ‘milk bank’ in Mumbai, added.
SOYONG, OP
