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Study finds breastfeeding protects newborns from sickness

The results of the study is in contradiction to US research findings, which take an anti-breastfeeding stance

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A study conducted on 198 lactating mothers and their newborns has revealed that babies who were breastfed were healthier than the babies who weren't. The study, conducted on a total of 396 subjects, has been conducted by postgraduate students of AMC MET Medical College on women admitted to LG Hospital, VS Hospital, and Shreeji Hospital.

Sickness spell measured in babies in the first year of their life revealed: 71(46%) kids don't fall sick in the first one year. 52 kids (33%) fall sick once or twice during the same period, and 21 kids (13%) fall sick three to four times, while only 13 kids(8%) fall sick more than four times. The study is contradictory to US' anti-breastfeeding stance.

"Breastfeeding is vital and essential for the child. It is like the first dose of vaccine the child gets. The first milk produced by the mammary glands (colostrum) is rich in immunoglobulin, which is an antibody that protects neonates from diseases," said Gaurav Dahiya, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Gujarat.

"A child must only be breastfed till they complete six months; thereafter, it need not be exclusive. breastfeeding has to be exclusive. However, breastfeeding must continue until the baby turned two years old. It is absolutely essential, hence we are promoting it," said Dahiya.

Dr Nishchal Bhatt, child specialist and president of the Academy of Paediatrics of Gujarat, said breastfeeding reduces the chances the mother or the child contracting any infection. "Breast milk is everything a child needs; it fulfills all the health requirements. It requires no expenditure. It also minimises postpartum bleeding, apart from decreasing chances of contracting breast and uterine cancer."

The study — Assessment of Breastfeeding Practices Among Lactating Mothers — was conducted by Shaily Shah, Bhavya Sheth, Ritika Shrivastav, and Harmit Shukla under the supervision of Dr Pallavi Upadhyay between July 2017 and September 2017.

The survey studied 135 babies (68.18% of 198) without prelacteal feed and 63 babies (31.82% of 198) with it. Of these, 79.29% babies received colostrum in their feed, 20.71% did not. Of the babies that consumed colostrum, 45.22% didn't fall sick in a year, while of those who did not receive colostrum, only 26.8% reported no sickness in the same period of time.

FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY:

  • 76 - Mothers who started breastfeeding within an hour of giving birth
     
  • 157 - Mothers who fed colostrum to the baby
     
  • 135 - Mothers who did not give any prelacteal feed to their babies
     
  • 147 - Mothers who were aware of the benefits of continuing breastfeeding during the disease
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