Ms. Arhoni Tungoe
Lecturer, College of Nursing, CIHSR, Dimapur
Breastfeeding is the best natural feed and the basic food for the baby. It is a complete food because it meets the nutritional as well as psychological needs of the infant. But nowadays breastmilk has been substituted by formula milk which has a lot of disadvantages for the baby.The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding as long as for 2 yearswith other feeds.Mixed feeding, or giving other liquids or foods together with breast milk to infants under 6 months of age, is widespread in many countries. This practice poses risks to an infant’s health because it can increase the chance of the infant getting diarrhea and other infectious diseases. It also causes the supply of breast milk to decrease as the baby sucks less at the breast. Babies do not need liquids other than breastmilk, not even water, in the first 6 months as breastmilk contains all the water a baby needs, even in very hot climates.
UNICEF stated that every year one million infants die and millions of others are impaired developmentally because they are not adequately breastfed. Every day between 3000 to 4000 infants die from diarrhea and acute respiratory infections because the ability to feed them adequately has been taken away from their mothers because of lack of knowledgeabout the benefits of breastfeeding ortime required for the breastfeeding or other reasons. Immediate breastfeeding – putting the baby to the mother’s breast within an hour after birth – would significantly reduce neonatal mortality.
Colostrum is called liquid gold and is the thick first milk that comes out of the mother’s breast just after birth. This milk is very rich in nutrients and includes antibodies to protect the baby from infections. Colostrum should not be discarded but be given to the baby. Colostrum changes into mature milk by the third to fifth day after birth. This mature milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein to help the baby continue to grow. It looks thinner than colostrum, but it has the nutrients and antibodies that the baby needs for healthy growth.
Breastfeeding has a lot of advantages for the mother as well as for the baby. Breastfeeding is more economical in terms of time and cost. Breast milk is clean and obtained at the right temperature. It improves maternal bonding with her child and alsohelps in the involution of uterus. Breast feeding prevents breast cancer in the mother, acts as a natural contraceptive if the child is exclusively breastfed for 8-12 times in a day and 2 to 3 times at night. It also helps restore pre- pregnant body figure.
For the infant, breast milk
1. Isessential for the growth of the brain because of high percentage of lactose and galactose in the breast milk
2. Facilitates absorption of calcium which helps in bony growth of the infant.
3. Breastmilk fats are polyunsaturated fatty acids which are necessary for the myelination of the nervous system.
4. It also contains amino acids like taurine and cysteine which are important neurotransmitters.
5. Breastmilk contains immunoglobulins which boost up immunity of the child and prevent many infections.
6. It also has a laxative action on the stool of the baby.
7. Breast milkhas no risk of allergy
8. Reduces the risk of obesity and diabetes mellitus for the baby in future.
Breastfeeding is contraindicated in infants whose mother is on cancer chemotherapy agents, radiation therapies, antimetabolites therapy and lithium therapy. Some medicines and illegal drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or phencyclidine, and alcohol can also pass through the breast milk and cause harm to the baby.
Yes, breastfeeding is not easy. New mothers will face common breastfeeding challenges such as sore nipples,inverted nipples, low milk supply,plugged ducts, breast infectionand breast engorgement. But all of these problems can be managed by maintaining proper breastfeeding technique.
Initiation of breastfeeding for normal delivery mothers should be within half an hour and for caesarean section mothers should be initiated within 2 hours. The frequency of feeding should be 8-12 feeds per 24 hours including night feeds which is 2-3 times or as per demand of the baby. Duration of feeding should be for 15-20 minutes. The mother should feed from one breast at a time until it gets emptied. No pre-lacteal feeds such as water, honey, juice and artificial feeds should be given to the baby for 6 months. Before feed, mother should be comfortable and relaxed physically and mentally. She should wash her hands and can have a glass of water, maintain correct and comfortable position either by sitting or lying on the side. Baby should be supported by the mother’s forearm with a slight head elevated position with head, neck and back in a straight line. Then the baby will quickly move on to the breast with the lower lip below the nipple, so that the nipple and most of the areola go into the baby’s mouth. The suckling of the breast stimulates the milk secretion and production;the baby’s mouth is filled with milk which is followed by swallowing. If the baby falls asleep after few sucks, mother should arouse the baby by gentle tap behind the ear or on the sole of the foot.
Adequacy of breast feeding is indicated and established if there is audible swallowing sound during the feed, wet nappies 6 or more in 24 hours, frequent soft bowel movements 3 to 8 times in 24 hours, average weight gain of 18 to 30g/day, baby sleeps well and does not cry frequently. The baby also has a good muscle tone and healthy skin.For working mothers, she should express her milk in a clean, wide mouthed container and this milk should be fed to her baby by the caretaker, in the absence of the mother. Expressed breastmilk can be stored at a room temperature for 8 hours and in the refrigerator for 24 hours.Containers should be sterile, covered and kept as cool as possible. Any leftover milk within 1 to 2 hours after the baby has finished feeding should be discarded.
Formula or artificial feeding is not an acceptable substitute for breastmilkbecause formula, at its best, only replaces most of the nutritional components of breast milk: it is just a food, whereas breast milk is a complex living nutritional fluid containing anti-bodies, enzymes, long chain fatty acids and hormones, many of which simply cannot be included in formula. Furthermore, in the first few months, it is hard for the baby’s gut to absorb anything other than breastmilk. Even one feeding of formula or other foods can cause injuries to the gut, taking weeks for the baby to recover. Nothing can substitute breastmilk.So, let us all encourage breastfeeding and give breastmilk to our babies because it is the best gift you can give to your baby.
