It is the duty of primary health care providers to educate new mothers and provide them with all the information they need to make the right decision.
Image Credit: Tech2 / Abigail Banerji
While breastfeeding is not an obligation, it is an informed feeding decision that every mother makes. This decision can only be made when a mother has access to the correct information about all available feeding options that will empower her, her child, and her family.
It is the duty of primary health care providers to educate new mothers and their families about the pros and cons of breastfeeding, expressed breast milk (own or from the human milk bank), and formula feeding.
Does breastfeeding affect the health of the mother?
Breastfeeding provides immense short- and long-term health benefits in terms of the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the mother and child.
Short term Benefits of breastfeeding:
It helps in the early delivery of the placenta when breastfeeding begins within the first hour after birth.
Helping the uterus to contract and return to the pre-pregnancy stage.
Reduce postpartum bleeding.
It acts as a contraceptive. *
(* only in case of exclusive breastfeeding of the baby (including night feeding) together with other preconditions that must be met if menstruation does not return and the baby must be less than six months old)
Long-term Benefits of breastfeeding:
Helps mother regain pre-pregnancy weight.
Reduces the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
It also reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and postmenopausal osteoporosis later in life.
It’s convenient, saves time and money, requires no preparation, and is eco-friendly too.
Mothers can safely breastfeed their newborns even if they test positive for COVID-19
Myths about breastfeeding
There are several myths related to breastfeeding. Let’s talk about some of those.
1. Breastfeeding is easy
Breastfeeding is a new skill that mothers learn and it is important to remember that learning a new skill is never easy. There will be many obstacles along the way, but with practical support and the right information, mothers will be able to overcome them. Breastfeeding takes time and practice for both mother and baby, so the mother needs space and support at home and at work.
2. Mothers should feed strictly in a sitting position.
A mother can breastfeed in any position that is comfortable for her, either lying down or sitting, as there is no change in the baby’s posture; it is only the mother’s position that changes.
3. Excessive crying in babies is associated with insufficient breast milk.
Crying is one of the languages through which babies can communicate. Whether or not breast milk is sufficient for the baby is only communicated through an adequacy test through urine and weight.
If an exclusively breastfed baby urinates at least six to seven times in 24 hours and the weight gain is a minimum of + 500 g / month, then it indicates that breast milk is sufficient.
4. Pain / sore nipples is normal while breastfeeding or breastfeeding hurts
Many mothers experience some discomfort in the first days after birth when they are learning to breastfeed, but with the correct position and attachment of the baby to the breast, sore and sore nipples can be prevented. But if the mother is constantly faced with these problems, then she should seek the help of a lactation consultant / counselor.
The author is a lactation consultant at Jaslok Hospital and Research Center, Mumbai.
Via: FirstPost
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