Breastfeeding Provides Health Benefits for Mother and Child

For the Child

• Reduces infectious diseases.
• Decreases incidence and severity of diarrhoea.
• Lowers respiratory and ear infections.
• Reduces the risk of obesity in later life.
• Prevents decay and misalignment of teeth.
• Increases intelligence.
• Increases bonding.

For the Mother

• Faster recovery and weight loss after childbirth.
• Helps with spacing between two pregnancies.
• Reduces risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
• Lowers depression after childbirth.
• Lowers risk of hypertension.

Optimal Breastfeeding

• Babies should start breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth.
• Babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life; complementary foods should be introduced thereafter
• Breastfeeding can be continued as long as possible even up to 2 years.

A Healthy Mom Makes A Healthy Baby

• Lactating mothers should be supplemented with required nutrients to fulfill their own needs & needs of the feeding baby through healthy breast milk.

• An ideal formulation containing optimum protein intake, adequate vitamins (e.g. B9, B12, D, etc.) and minerals (iron, calcium, etc.) during pregnancy and lactation positively affects overall growth and development of the newborn.
  • IRON AND FOLIC ACID (Vit B9) are needed for haemoglobin synthesis, to reduce risk of anaemia & its associated complications⁴
  • CALCIUM is essential for proper formation of bones and teeth of the offspring, for secretion of breast-milk rich in calcium and to prevent osteoporosis in the mother²
  • Iron, folate and calcium supplements should be taken regularly, after 14-16 weeks of pregnancy and continued during lactation²

How to Hold the Baby while Breastfeeding

Cross-cradle                                            Cradle hold

        Football hold                                                Side-lying

Burping Your Baby

• Burping your baby is important to reduce discomfort that may arise after swallowing the milk.
• Burping can be achieved by rubbing or patting their backs gently for couple of minutes.
• There aren’t any ‘correct’ positions - it is about what feels most comfortable for you both.

Over the shoulder                   Sitting on your lap              Laying across your lap

References

1. https://www.nhp.gov.in/world-breastfeeding-week2019_pg
2. Dietary Guidelines for Indians - A Manual, National Institute of Nutrition
3. https://www.fogsi.org/tog-pregnancy-and-lactation/
4. FOGSI General Clinical Practice Recommendations, Management of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Pregnancy
5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/multimedia/breast-feeding/sls-20076017
6. https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/breastfeeding/how-to-breastfeed/burping-your-baby/