World Breast-feeding Week is celebrated from 1 to 7 August with the theme “BREAST-FEEDING – Foundation of Life”

World Breast-feeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August all over the globe to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. The theme for the week this year is, ?BREAST-FEEDING ? Foundation of Life?. Breastfeeding is one of the best cares a mother can give her infant.

In 1991, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), in collaboration with the WHO and UNICEF organised the first World Breastfeeding Week in order to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the new-born?s life, which is crucial in bringing tremendous health benefits both for the baby and mother, provision of critical nutrients, fostering growth and protection from deadly diseases.

Dr Santhi A - Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecologist at Gleneagles Global Hospitals explains the need and procedure of breastfeeding. According to Dr Santhi, ?After delivery of the baby, the milk for the first three days is a thin, watery yellowish liquid called colostrums. This is rich in fats, proteins and immunoglobulins, designed to help the baby fight infections and build up the baby?s inherent ability to defend from infection. From the 3rd or 4th day, breast milk becomes white and consisting of foremilk and then hindmilk. When the baby starts feeding, it is hungry and thirsty; this thirst is satisfied by the foremilk, which constitutes the water content required by the baby. Once the baby finishes the foremilk, it receives hindmilk, which is thicker and contains the fats, proteins, carbohydrates and immunoglobulins required by the baby. Each breast secretes a combination of the two, which is why the mother must feed the baby completely from one breast before moving to the next. If the milk in both breasts is not enough for the baby?s hunger, a signal is sent to the brain to release more prolactin, a hormone which stimulates the secretion of breast milk.?

Starting in the anti-natal period, as early as six weeks into the pregnancy, the breasts prepare themselves for lactation. Once the baby is delivered, they are ready for secretion of milk. Breastfeeding is very advantageous to the baby as it is sterile and completely free from contamination. It is the most hygienic food a mother can give her baby. The milk is customised with nutrients as per the requirement of the baby. Even if the baby is premature, the nutrients in the milk are designed to support and nourish the baby. Babies can survive on breast milk alone, and do not need additional supplements or antibiotics for nutrition.

It is important for the mother to feel comfortable with the whole process of breastfeeding. Just the sight of the baby or the cry of the baby can induce the mother to start lactating. Mothers need to be confident in their ability to feed and nourish their child, and should feel positive about the whole experience. Negative feelings, thoughts of pain and inadequacy need to be dispelled from the mother?s mind, as this can hamper the breastfeeding cycle. This can also cause complications for the mother and the baby. Breastfeeding is a beautiful process of nature, and needs to feel like that in order for the mother and child to feel comfortable and grow together in the process.

ABOUT GLENEAGLES GLOBAL HOSPITALS: Gleneagles Global Hospitals is part of Parkway Pantai, a fully owned subsidiary of IHH Healthcare. In India, Gleneagles Global Hospitals operates a chain of multi-super specialty hospitals offering tertiary and quaternary healthcare services with over 2,000 beds and state-of the-art, world-class hospitals in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai. A pioneer in kidney, liver, heart and lung transplants, Gleneagles Global Hospitals provides comprehensive multi-organ transplant services in the country.
Gleneagles Global Hospitals aims to strengthen and expand its leading market position as a destination for multi-organ transplant for patients from India, Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. We are committed to further our aspiration of making quality health care more accessible to all.
We are very fortunate that our existing cohort of consultants and surgeons are leaders in their fields, and looked upon as iconic figures in the medical fraternity.

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User :- Geeta Fadnavis

Email :-geetafadnavis@gmail.com