DivyaApollo Cradle Delhi celebrated World Breastfeeding Week (1st August – 7th August) by spreading awareness about breastfeeding through interactive sessions with mothers. The session was headed by the following doctors:
- Dr. Geeta Chadha, Senior Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
- Dr. Vandana Sarkar, Lactation Consultant
The Golden Hour of Breastfeeding
For the first three days after your baby’s birth, your breasts do not produce milk but ‘colostrum’. It is a thin yellow fluid that contains antibodies, water, sugar, vitamins, minerals, and protein. Colostrum protects your baby against infectious diseases during the first 72 hours of life.
Dr. Geeta advised giving the baby to her mother for feeding before even cutting the cord in natural birth. It has various nutritional and medical benefits for both the mother and the baby.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a big responsibility which a mother has to undertake with strong willpower. Although the support of the whole family is required, a mother needs to maintain balance. Men are not good rope walkers to maintain such a balance but women are blessed with this quality. So, breastmilk is the best gift a mother can give to her baby.
Too many researches are showing the benefits of breastmilk and breastfeeding. The benefits are immense for both the mother and the baby.
Techniques of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is 10% milk production and 90% determination.
“All of us are programmed by the nature to look around for food. Similarly, babies also know when and how to feed. When a baby comes out, the breasts naturally get active producing the foremilk and then hindmilk. Mother’s milk production unit already knows how much is the requirement for her baby.”- Dr. Geeta
You can have a look at “Helpful Breastfeeding Tips for New Mothers”.
Myths about breastfeeding
Many myths are connected with breastfeeding but a mother should focus on its nutritional and medical benefits and the go-ahead to pour the love of mother’s milk turned into food. Dr. Geeta and DR. Vandana have discussed a few common myths.
Cow’s Milk
Is there any other species where a child is consuming the milk of another animal. It is only human species who consumes animal’s milk, so why do we do that? Mother’s milk is sufficient and the most nutritious thing a baby can get.
Feed Schedule
We should never schedule the feeding time. Who are we to decide the time. Nature wants you to ‘demand feed’. When baby wants a feed, just feed. Sometimes the baby just wants to be closer to you, it is their emotional requirement. Mother’s usually say – the baby is not consuming milk instead he is just sucking and irritating me. He is emotionally getting comforted that my mom is with me.
Babies usually sense that their mother is in hurry and gets restless. Babies are very perceptive to your body language and just to gain your attention, they want your feed which works as a pacifier for them.
According to a research, babies who are well fed by their mothers according to baby’s emotional requirements are more active and confident later.
Kangaroo Care
When the baby is always stuck to a mother like a kangaroo kid. It is not at all wrong, hang the baby in a baby carrier and whenever the baby is hungry, feed him. It develops a strong bonding with your newborn.
The western world has come back to it with a force, what our elders were doing they are going back to it. We should stick to our cultural roots that baby and mother is one unit. I oppose the British culture to put the baby in a cot, Dr. Geeta added.
Personal Failure
Breastfeeding might not be the right choice for every parent but the breastmilk is always the right food for every baby.
“Many mothers get worried that my baby is not taking breastmilk. Mothers these days are so strongly programmed during their pregnancy that if you don’t breastfeed, it’s a personal failure. Please don’t feel guilty as it happens sometimes when a mother does not have an erectile muscle for the nipple. Do not feel the emotions of guilt because as long as your milk is pulled out by the pump and you are able to give the nutrition to your baby, it is a win-win situation. You are such a motivated mother, you have tried your best it is not a failure on your part. Let go!” – Dr. Geeta
Lactation diet
To have plenty of milk a mother needs to eat a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids and above all stay calm and relaxed. Stress is the biggest contributor these days in less milk production and even infertility – Dr. Vandana added.
“There is no magic food which can help you during pregnancy or after delivery to produce more milk. It is just a balanced diet which you need to follow throughout your pregnancy and even after the birth of your child.” – Dr. Vandana
You might be curious to know How fathers can help in breastfeeding?
Apollo Cradle Delhi
Apollo Cradle is one of the most trusted healthcare destinations for mothers and babies. It provides the most advanced and upgraded treatment for its patients. The highly qualified specialists in the field of Pediatrics & Neonatology, Laparoscopy, Gynecology, Fetal Medicine, Maternity, Fertility, and NICU serve the Apollo Cradle.
Why mothers opt for Apollo Cradle?
- Ethical and transparent treatment
- State of Art Infrastructure
- Patient-friendly treatment
- Highly qualified pediatricians and obstetricians
- 24*7 Services
- More than 1,50,000 babies delivered over a period of 36 years
It is one of the best health care center in the country which treats their patients and provides health care of International Standards with excellence at par. The only aim of Apollo Cradle is ‘Touch a Billion Lives’.
Wish you a very Happy and Healthy Parenting!
