International Breastfeeding Week

One third of the world’s children succumb to malnutrition before they turn five, and two thirds of these deaths may be associated with inappropriate feeding practices during the first year of an infant’s life. Taking cognizance of this alarming statistic, World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a mandate saying all infants should start breastfeeding within one hour of birth and should be exclusively breastfed for six months, for the good health of the child and the mother.

With the intention of spreading awareness among the support staff in a hospital, Medica celebrated International Breastfeeding Week on 3rd August, in association with the IAP Metropolis branch, with a workshop at its premises. On this occasion, Dr. Ashok Mittal, Dr. Samuel Vaddeswaram, Dr. B.K. Manocha and Dr. Arnab Haldar discussed the common challenges faced by mothers while Breastfeeding and how to ensure exclusive Breastfeeding at Medica by rooming-in and Breastfeeding assessment by a lactation nurse.

The Doctors explained that Breastfeeding right after birth could reduce infant mortality rates in India as Colostrum, the human breast milk is not only very rich in proteins, vitamin A and sodium chloride, but contains lower amounts of carbohydrates, potassium, and fat. It provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide for the child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third during the second year of life. They focussed on the responsibility of the Doctors and other staff in explaining the importance of breastfeeding to new mothers and encourage them to do so.