Kathmandu

Mother-child bonding is a very intimate relationship. Breastfeeding helps strengthening the bond. It not only helps in making the mother-child relation more intimate, but it also helps infants to fight diseases. Looking at the importance of breastfeeding and helping to create awareness about breastfeeding, the World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated worldwide from August 1 to 7. This year it is being celebrated with a slogan ‘Breastfeeding: A key to sustainable development’.

“What we must understand is that breastfeeding should not be done only for doing the act. Lactating mothers should understand the advantages of breastfeeding her child,” shares Dr Archana Amatya, Associate Professor, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj. The mothers should also know the correct way of breastfeeding, providing adequate nutrition to her baby and should know the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. “So as to create awareness about breastfeeding, the breastfeeding week is celebrated worldwide,” informs the doctor.

Breastfeeding to fight diseases

It is crucial for the newborn to get exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. During these six months, the babies are not given any other supplements except mother’s milk. “Water too isn’t necessary for the babies because mother’s milk has all the nutrients and water that is necessary for the baby,” informs Dr Amatya.

Colostrum — the yellowish thick milk that is secreted in new mothers after delivery — is enriched with protective antibodies that prevents bacterial contact in infants and is also rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, fats and minerals. As the milk is enriched with immunoglobulin, it helps in increasing the immunity in babies and also helps in neutralising bacteria and viruses, as per the doctor. Immunoglobulin helps fight against infections. “Diarrhoea and other infections are the major causes of infant mortality. Exclusive breastfeeding helps in decreasing infant mortality,” informs Dr Amatya. “Several researches have shown that babies who are breastfed for longer have better intelligence. In addition, the development of the jaw is also healthy in such babies,” adds the doctor.

Delaying new pregnancy

Breastfeeding is also economical for the family. One doesn’t need to worry about additional cost for infant formula (artificial milk) and bottles. Breastfeeding doesn’t only have an economical advantage. Exclusive breastfeeding is helpful in delaying a new pregnancy. The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) is a natural birth control technique based on the fact that lactation causes amenorrhea — lack of menstruation. “Prolactin hormone level is high in new mothers and as it is high, it doesn’t let other hormones increase. This is the reason why new mothers have a delay in menstruation. Though the success rate is high, one shouldn’t completely depend on breastfeeding for family planning,” opines Dr Amatya.

New mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their child immediately after delivery. One even doesn’t need to wait for the placenta to come out or to wait until the new mother is shifted to another room after delivery, as per the doctor. When the mothers breastfeed, there is a secretion of oxytocin hormone in the body. This hormone helps in contraction of the uterus which further helps in easy delivery of the placenta. It is also helpful in controlling post-partum haemorrhage (bleeding after delivery). “That’s why we encourage new mothers to breastfeed their baby immediately after the delivery,” informs Dr Amatya.

Condition in Nepal

Breastfeeding is common in Nepal. As per the Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2011, “Breastfeeding is very common in Nepal, with 98 per cent of children ever breastfed. Seventy per cent of Nepali children under six months are being exclusively breastfed. The median duration of any breastfeeding among children 0-35 months is 33.6 months while the median duration of exclusive breastfeeding is 4.2 months. Complementary foods should be introduced when a child is six months old to reduce the risk of malnutrition. In Nepal, 70 per cent of children age six to nine months are breastfeeding and eating complementary foods.”

As women get maternal leaves at their workplaces, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for two months is very high in the country, as per the doctor. “After the completion of two months, the babies are fed infant formula because the mothers have to return to work. There aren’t any policies from the government side nor is there a favourable environment in the workplaces to breastfeed one’s child. Had there been favourable policies and environment, it would have been easier for the mothers,” opines Dr Amatya.

The aim of this breastfeeding week is to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Health workers working in various birth centres should know the correct way of breastfeeding so that proper counselling can be given to new mothers, as per the doctor.

Correct way to breastfeed

• Many women are not aware about the correct way of breastfeeding. The babies are just given the nipples to suck. However, the correct way to breastfeed a baby is that the mothers should insert whole areola inside the baby’s mouth so as to help the infant grasp the nipple properly and help him/her suck easily.
• Women should be conscious of foremilk and hindmilk. Water content is high in foremilk. The hindmilk has vitamins and nutrients that are necessary for the child. Therefore mothers must feed their babies completely on each breast.
• The babies must be fed as per their demand, be it day or night.
• Children should be exclusively breastfed for up to six months. Meanwhile, breastfeeding should be continued for up to two years.