With first week of August being observed as World Breastfeeding Week, Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrics at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Vashi, Dr Bandita Sinha sheds light on the multiple challenges faced by the lactating mothers as they strive to practice exclusive breastfeeding. She further adds that a mother’s milk is the best nutrition for babies for the first 6 months of their life because those children who are not sufficiently breastfed contract infections easily and end up with a weak immunity system.
In a tete-a-tete with Manasi Tahalani, Dr Sinha stated that after delivery women undergo hormonal changes which lead to depression, aggression and the mothers eventually stop to breastfeed their child after 3 to 4 months. Also, those women who are working have to deal with new roles and responsibilities which can be too much to bear. Following this, she emphasised that supportive family members, friendly environment at work and home can do wonders for all lactating mothers. Towards the end, Dr Sinha advises that along with the baby’s health, all women should look after their diet and maintain a routine which includes yoga, exercises, diet full of nutritious food and fluids which will strengthen their immunity system and lead to successful breastfeeding.
Q: After delivery, women, especially those who are first-timers, start facing multiple challenges while they practice exclusive breastfeeding. Following this, they face depression and stop breastfeeding their child? Why do lactating mothers undergo such difficulties and what is the solution for it?
A: During the pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy period, women undergo huge hormonal changes which reflect in their behaviour and actions. Delivering to breastfeeding a child is difficult wherein the women feel exhausted, following this, they face difficulties in breastfeeding a baby because they are not informed and well-educated about it. It is crucial that since the beginning of the pregnancy, women are taught to be prepared and are made aware in order to be strong enough to breastfeed. Today, there are various lactation consultants who teach women how to initiate breastfeed, best positions for breastfeeding, how to hold the child while breastfeeding. Especially, women who are first-timers for lactation should essentially read books on pregnancy and lactation which will give them knowledge and should also consult a lactation consultant in order to understand the entire process of breastfeeding.
Q: Women who are working have to deal with personal as well as professional life wherein their roles and responsibilities get doubled with being a mother. Owing to this, women who have to juggle between being a mother and a working professional end up with huge emotional issues and eventually quit breastfeeding.
A: Working women don’t need to stop breastfeeding their child, in fact they can opt for other options which are available today. Before leaving for work, working women can pump out their breast milk into a container with the help of a breast pump and can easily store it in the refrigerator. Following this, the family members can feed the child later whenever he/she is hungry. However, there a couple of things that the mothers need to know that the milk should be extracted properly and the container should be sterilised properly. Also, the milk has to be consumed by the child within 4-6 hours. Along with this, the family should also be supportive and gentle towards the mother. The husband and in-laws should show love, affection and be sensitive towards mother and their issues. Even the office relatives need to understand the situation and extend a helping hand. A friendly and supportive environment at work and home will create wonders for the mother and the child.
Q: For how long should a mother breastfeed a child? Also, how important is breastfeeding for new-borns and what are the consequences if a child is not sufficiently breastfed?
A: Breastfeeding is significant for the first six months of the child’s life as he doesn’t have any intake of food and water. After six months, the mothers can start giving their child diet food which are soft and easier to consume, cereals, fruits and water can also be consumed by the child. Women should breastfeed their child till two years but if they cannot then they should at least feed them for 9 to 12 months. If a child is not sufficiently breastfed then they are easily prone to infections, viruses wherein infants end up with loose motions, cramps and viral fever. Also, mother’s milk helps in improving immunity system, growth and development which helps the child from contracting diseases.
Q: Women face complications while breastfeeding their child wherein they are not able to produce milk. What should be done in such a situation and what necessary precautions should be taken by lactating mothers?
A: Owing to repeated sucking of milk from the nipples, women’s nipples become tender, sore and cause severe pain. Also, there are many women whose nipples are in-drawn or inverted, following which, they face difficulty in producing milk and therefore we suggest women to apply some olive oil and massage the area in order to make it soft and pointed. Along with this, a very crucial point that women need to make is that along with taking care of their babies, they also need to look after themselves. Mothers should start doing yoga and exercises after 4-6 weeks of their pregnancy and should include good intake of nutritious food and fluids which will strengthen their immunity and will help in breastfeeding their child and maintaining good health of their child as well as their own.
