At the advice of a paediatrician, the 29-year-old former school teacher at a city school, continued to feed him formula milk, until she noticed that her son was passing greenish stool. Immediately, the baby was put on pasteurised milk, which raked up a stomach problem, wherein he started passing blood in his stool. Medical examination confirmed that Rohan was allergic to cow's milk. Now, the two-and-a-halfmonth-old is back on another brand of formula milk. "But I strongly believe that had he been exclusively on breast milk, issues like these wouldn't have occurred," admits the Bhandup resident.

 

While Sinha's is a medical condition, gynaecologists and paediatricians across the city are conducting various breastfeed-initiating drives for new mums. "Eighty to 90 per cent of new mothers start weaning their child off breast milk in the first six months because they have to resume work, or (wrongly) think that their breasts will sag. For the same reason, we see many babies suffering from stomach infections, loose motions, rashes and colic," says Dr Nikita Lad, gynaecologist at Mahim's Fortis Raheja Hospital.

 

All that a baby needs 

A survey conducted by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), last year, suggested that nearly 49 per cent of the Mumbai women who were surveyed were averse to breastfeeding. To encourage breastfeeding, city hospitals have started conducting counselling sessions for expecting moms and bringing in support groups to clear their doubts and help them during the feeding stage. They have even started promoting 'breast crawl' wherein a bare baby is placed on the mother's stomach, for a skinto-skin touch and he/she instinctively crawls up to the mother's breasts. In fact, medical institutions like Fortis in Mulund and Mahim, Dr L H Hiranandani, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre in Peddar Road, as well as, Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central have even termed themselves as 'breastfeeding-friendly hospitals'.

 

While the statistics at Nair hospital differ, the problem is essentially the same. Head of its paediatric department Dr Sanjeev Bhavdekar, says, "We had observed a trend where 80 to 90 per cent mothers used to start breastfeeding, and only 50 per cent would continue for up to six months. Of these, only 30 per cent would exclusively breastfeed during that time." In the five years after the support group was set up, Dr Bhavdekar has seen the numbers grow. "And for good reason. There is no replacement to breast milk," he says.

 

"Breast milk is all that a baby needs for the first six months," says Dr Bijal Shrivastava, paediatrician at Powai's Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital. "Adequate complementary food must be added to the diet only after that." She adds that breast milk is wholesome food and water for the baby, which is easy to digest and is not contaminated, unlike pasteurised milk which is available in the market. Besides, it provides antiinfective substances, which protects the baby from infections like respiratory infections, diarrhoea and developing allergies like eczema and rhinitis in future.

 

Complete nutrition 

In his book, Guide to Childcare, former head of department of paediatric and neonatology at Jaslok, and a crusader of breastfeeding in India, Dr R K Anand points out, "In the first months of life, a baby's intestines are not fully matured and foreign substances present in cow, buffalo or powder milk may enter the system of the baby through the immature intestines making them prone to severe allergies."

 

He believes that mother's milk is ideal for the baby. All other substitutes are not only inferior, but also harmful. "In fact, colostrum, the first milk, is vital for the baby," he says. "Breastfeeding should, therefore, start in the delivery room itself. At the beginning of the feed, the milk is thin (foremilk), and towards the end, it becomes thick (hind milk). The foremilk is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, water and lactose and the hind milk is rich in fat. A baby needs both."

 

Dr Anand says that a human brain needs to grow very fast in the first years of life. "Breast milk is suited to fuel this growth," he adds. Breast milk, he says, contains the most suitable protein and fat for the baby and in the right quantities; more lactose (milk sugar) which a human baby needs; enough vitamins and iron; enough water for your baby even in an extremely hot climate; the correct amount of salt, calcium and phosphate and a special enzyme, which digests fat. The absorption of zinc and iron from breast milk is unsurpassed by any other source in early infancy. This protects the baby against early zinc and iron deficiencies. In later infancy, the ideal balance of amino acids provided by breast milk adds to the quality of protein in the total diet, which is frequently deficient in other sources of protein. "That is why one must breastfeed up to the second year," he says, adding that the trend to stop breastfeeding after the first six months is not healthy for the baby.

 

Benefits for the baby

 

Reduced risks of cancer 

There is evidence to show that the risk of certain cancers (like lymphoma) is reduced in breastfed babies

 

Better teeth 

Other factors being equal, a breastfed baby is likely to have a better configuration of the face and teeth alignment

 

Lesser risk of diabetes 

Studies conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that subjects who have been breastfed as infants have a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, and mean cholesterol

 

Better IQ

Research shows breastfed children, in the long run, show higher performance in intelligence tests

 

Advantages for the mom 

- Facilitates a close, loving bond with the baby

- Hormonal changes while feeding confers a sense of calm and satisfaction

- Lowered risk of bleeding post delivery and conception

- Reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer

- Quicker regaining of the figure as a breastfeeding mother utilises the fat that is accumulated during pregnancy

 

The first feed 

Colostrum is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands during late pregnancy and the first few days after giving birth. It is thick, sticky and yellowish. Colostrum has high concentrations of nutrients and antibodies, but in a small quantity. It is high in carbs, protein, antibodies, and low in fat. Newborns have tiny digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. Its mild laxative effect, encourages the passing of the baby's first stool.

 

Sourse : Times of India