After childbirth, breastfeeding can be a daunting task for mothers. From struggling with holding the baby right to being puzzled about the baby refusing to feed, women go through many ups and downs. A group of lactation experts in the city has been helping new mothers cope with these questions and in the process, play a crucial role in the early development of children.
Breast milk, the natural first food for babies, protects them against infections and other diseases. Most importantly, it helps prevent infant mortality. “The knowledge about the importance of breastfeeding varies. Some women know a lot while others are clueless. Our role is to ensure that these women go home equipped with all the tips to ensure that the child gets the right nutrition and grows well,” said lactation consultant Shubha Subramaniam (52), who is attached to the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI). Ms. Subramaniam visits Wadia, Sion and Raheja-Fortis hospitals and two nursing homes for consultations.
Shubha Subramaniam
The city has nearly 50 lactation consultants who are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). Of these, nearly 40 are BPNI faculty. There are more lactation counsellors who are trained and experienced but don’t have the IBCLC certification.
Ms. Subramaniam, who has been in this field for more than 22 years, said some of the common complaints from mothers are about the baby not latching properly and insufficient milk. “Mothers who have twins often fear that they will not be able to feed both the children,” said Ms. Subramaniam, citing the example of a lioness in a jungle who feeds many cubs without help and support. “I tell mothers that they can easily handle their two cubs with so much help around,” she said.
Lactation consultant Dipti Shah (42), who visits the civic-run Nair Hospital and privately-run Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani and Cloud 9 hospitals for consultations, said the understanding about breastfeeding varies depending on the socioeconomic conditions as well. “Mothers delivering in government hospitals know a lot through their friends and neighbours. But they believe in a lot of myths like giving Ayurvedic syrups and water to the babies. A mother’s hygiene is also a major problem,” Ms. Shah said. In bigger private hospitals, mothers are equipped with information from the internet. “But there is always a gap in what they know. We fill those gaps,” Ms. Shah said.
Dipti Shah
While some mothers require one-time counselling, others require multiple sessions. Counselling is not just suggested for first-time mothers, but also for those who are delivering for the second time, as the first child may not have been breastfed properly. Besides techniques to hold the baby, mothers are sensitised about how many times to feed and watching the baby’s growth.
Paediatrician Dr. Bhupendra Awasthi of Surya Hospital in Santacruz said lactation consultants and counsellors are specialists in the subject. “New mothers go through happiness and stress at the same time after childbirth. But when the baby does not feed, mothers become anxious and guilty. Counselling in lactation thus helps them relax and learn the skill with support,” he said.
Why is lactation counselling important?
* Women need extra support, encouragement and reassurance while breastfeeding
* Although we view breastfeeding as a natural process, it is still a skill that has to be learnt
* Initially, breastfeeding can seem demanding, as the baby may have a desire to feed/suck frequently
* New mothers need to learn about correct positioning and attachment
* Women with low birth weight babies or twins also need extra support to initiate breastfeeding
What is so good about breastfeeding?
* Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs for the first six months of life to grow and develop
* It continues to provide high-quality nutrients and helps protect against infection up to two years of age or more
* Breast milk protects babies from infections and illnesses
* Babies find breast milk easy to digest
* The baby’s body uses breast milk efficiently
* Breastfeeding can contribute to birth spacing
* It helps the mother’s uterus to contract, reducing the risk of bleeding after birth
It lowers the rate of
* breast and ovarian cancer in the mother
* Breastfeeding promotes a faster return to mother’s pre-pregnancy weight
* Breastfeeding promotes the emotional relationship, or bonding, between mother and infant
Risks of not breastfeeding
* Babies may get sick more often with diarrhoea, malnutrition and pneumonia and are at increased risk of dying
* Babies do not get natural protection to illnesses
Skin-to-skin contact helps...
* keep the baby warm
* establish breastfeeding
* encourage mother-child bonding
