Written By: Longjam Dineshwori | Published : August 2, 2021 2:56 PM IST
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1 to August 7 to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. With the theme 'Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility', this year's World Breastfeeding campaign aims to focus on how breastfeeding contributes to the survival, health and wellbeing of all, and the imperative to protect breastfeeding worldwide.
Expectant and nursing mothers have a barrage of worries regarding breastfeeding, especially new moms. As we mark the World Breastfeeding Week 2021, we spoke to two gynaecologists who gave answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about breastfeeding.
Below are excerpts from exclusive interactions with Dr. Veena Aurangabadwala, Gynaecologist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital, and Dr. Bilsi Mittal, Gynaecologist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai.
Dr. Veena said, "While breastfeeding the baby, the baby has to be placed on one side that is toward the breasts. His/ her entire body should be facing your chest, and the ear, shoulder, and hip should be in a straight line. The head should not be turned to the other side and should be straight in line with the body."
According to her, there are different positions for feeding such as the cradle, crossover, football positions.
Explaining about these positions, she said, "One beneficial position that you can try is cradle hold wherein the baby is lying on the side across your lap or supported with the help of a pillow that brings the baby to the level of the breast. Your little one's head will be cradled in the arm that is on the same side as the breast baby is nursing on. Another position named crossover hold can help a new mom get the best control over positioning the newborn's head for a good latch. Here, the baby is lying on their side across your lap, but you are supporting his/her head and body with a pillow and the opposite arm than the breast you are nursing on."
Dr. Veena answered: Breast feeding should be on demand. Try to breastfeed the babies after every 3-4 hours. But some babies will require feeds even after every hour. It is also recommended to speak to your lactation expert regarding this for proper guidance. Avoid forcefully feeding your baby.
Dr. Veena explained: The baby will refuse to accept feeds due to inefficient latch. When the baby is latching on to your breast correctly, he/ she will take your entire nipple and a good portion of your areola, the dark area around your nipple, into her mouth. If your baby has a birth injury or disability, then he/she may refuse to breastfeed. Baby will refuse to feed if he /she is sleepy. Delayed milk production, distraction, cold, pain, and low milk supply can also be the culprits behind this. Please take the help of an expert who will help you to understand the underlying reason behind the baby's refusal to breastfeeding - a paediatrician, obstetrician or a lactation consultant.
Dr. Bilsi Mittal from Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai, advises nursing mothers to avoid eating a lot of chocolate. "Chocolate contains theobromine that has a similar effect to that of caffeine. The baby might show fussy and erratic behaviour if the mother eats a lot of chocolate having theobromine every day and suffer from problems like insufficient sleep," she said.
The gynaecologist also cautioned against eating food stuffs which can cause gastric problems (varies from person to person) and eating spicy, oily, junk, processed and canned food.
"Say 'NO' to colas and sodas, and other foods with additives and artificial sweeteners. Breastfeeding moms need to avoid alcohol as via breast milk, alcohol passes from the mom to baby and hamper his/her neurological development. Stay away from alcohol for the next 2 years or at least when you're breastfeeding, not even when you socialize during parties. Just stick to water. Water shall help you stay hydrated well while breastfeeding as well as help in good milk production," she said.
Just like alcohol, smoking is also harmful to your little one. Many nursing moms are advised to avoid peanuts if there is a medical history of their allergy in the family. You will be shocked to know that the peanuts' allergic proteins can be passed to the produced breast milk to the baby leading to hives, or rashes. If a mother is allergic to eggs, then she should avoid them as egg allergy is common and can be problematic to the babies. Do not eat corn if you observe allergies in your baby after eating it she added.
Even if you have a viral fever, cold, diarrhoea, and vomiting, or mastitis, do not discontinue breastfeeding your baby, said Dr. Bilsi.
"Your baby won't catch any disease or illness via breast milk. In fact, breast milk contains antibodies to slash down the risk of these illnesses. So, it is completely safe to breastfeed the baby. Do not believe in any rumours or myths regarding breastfeeding," she concluded.
This World Breastfeeding Week, help share this information to as many new mothers as you can and play your part in debunking the myths surrounding breastfeeding, as well as promoting and supporting breastfeeding in the communities.
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