Keep abreast of breast-feeding benefits

Dr Geetika Gangwani

A CHILD’S arrival is the best gift for most parents. They want to give the best of everything to their little bundle of joy right from the word go. Well, they can start doing that immediately by giving the newborn access to his/her mother’s milk within an hour of birth. The first milk a mother produces after delivery is called colostrum, a thick, sticky substance, which can range from clear to dark yellow in colour. Often called liquid gold, it is a superfood for babies.

Packed full of concentrated nutrition, colostrum contains more protein, less fat and sugar and is full of antibodies, white blood cells and other immunity properties. It acts as a natural vaccine for the newborn and helps to kill off viruses and bacteria and fight infections and illness. 

As colostrum is produced in initial 2-3 days only, be sure the baby is breast fed. 

By breastfeeding her baby, a mother can give him/her the best possible start in life. It also helps in cementing the bond between the two. 

As one of the most populous nations in the world, India should have led the way in promoting breastfeeding. However, nearly one lakh children die every year due to diseases that breastfeeding could have prevented. 

Human milk is perfectly adapted for the unique needs of the baby. It is easily digestible and provides the necessary proteins, sugar and fat that a baby needs. Breast milk contains vital antibodies, enzymes, living cells and hormones that cannot be replicated in formula milk. It boosts immunity and digestion of a child and enhance development of brain. Breastfeeding also makes babies less prone to become overweight or obese later in life.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) is a structurally complicated sugar molecule unique to breast milk. It is the third most abundant component after lactose and fat. Breastfed babies have lower rates of ear infections, pneumonia, stomach viruses and diarrhoea. Incidences of cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia, diseases such as Crohn’s, asthma, allergies, eczema, diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are also less.

For the mother, breastfeeding protects her from the risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer as well as heart disease or osteoporosis. Breastfeeding also aids in burning calories. A mother who breastfeeds her child can lose as much as 1,000 calories a day that helps her shed extra kilos and return to her pre-baby weight in a healthy manner. It also quickens the mother’s healing rate during the postpartum phase, including aiding her uterus return to pre-pregnancy size faster.

Formula milk is no substitute 

Those babies who are not breast fed are often given formula milk or animal milk as a substitute. While this practice is convenient, formula milk can affect an infant’s health. Normally, the flow of breast milk in a new mother is less during the initial hours but as the baby keeps suckling, it gradually increases. Many new mothers give up at this juncture thinking that the amount is not enough. 

Formula milk is harder to digest for a new baby. It stays in the stomach longer than breast milk. This may cause the baby to demand feed less often and could decrease a mother’s milk flow. Supplementing breast feed with formula milk, especially from a bottle, may change the baby’s sucking pattern at the breast. Latching the baby to the breast may be more difficult after he/she is fed with a firmer bottle nipple where the flow is also faster. However, in comparison to animal milk, formula milk is more suitable for babies. Those mothers who have to be away from their babies for a longer duration should develop a regimen combining both breast milk and formula milk to ensure the babies are well fed even in their absence. In the first four to six months when the baby should be entirely dependent on breastfeeding, about 100 to 150 ml of formula per kg of the baby’s body weight every day is fine.

Mother’s diet impacts baby’s health 

What a new mother eats also impacts the quality of breast milk. High-protein foods, whole grains, cereals, pulses, dried fruits, fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and chicken should be included in a mother’s daily diet. To improve the flow and quantity of milk, mothers should also drink lots of water, fresh fruit juices, coconut water, lassi, lime juice, etc. However, lactating mothers should avoid alcohol at all costs. Traditionally in India, ghee is considered good for a new mother. Though it is beneficial but too much consumption may increase weight further. Continue taking supplements of iron and calcium in the postpartum period for up to 3 months.

—The writer is a qualified lactation consultant from IBCLC, USA, with Mamma Mia, Fortis Lafemme, New Delhi

Tips for lactating mothers

• Improve the flow of milk by drinking lots of water. 
• Food items like oatmeal, fenugreek, garlic and carrots are  said to boost the production of breast milk.
• Avoid taking spicy food as it may impact your digestive health.
• Avoid anxiety and stress if you are not able to produce ‘enough’ milk since it may impact your hormones. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for breast milk production and its secretion is directly impacted by the baby’s suckling.
• Newborns may feed for up to 20 minutes on each breast while older babies may take about 5-10 minutes on each side.
• Consult a doctor or healthcare worker if you need any help on breastfeeding.