New mothers to be trained in breastfeeding

Breastfeeding her newborn might be the most natural thing in the world for a mother, but many new mums struggle when it comes to breastfeeding their babies.

Which is why members of the Mumbai Breastfeeding Promotion Council, in keeping with the World Breastfeeding Awareness Week (August 1-7) theme of ‘Breastfeeding, the baby-friendly way', are planning awareness programmes to promote the trend.

“The World Health Organisation has laid down 10 steps for baby-friendly breastfeeding. We will be holding a discussion on this with doctors and nurses, and will also be training the people concerned," said Dr Jayashree Mondkar, head of the department of Neo-Natology, Sion Hospital, and the president of the council. “Even though breastfeeding is instinctive for a new mother, a fair share of women struggle with it. There is a technique to it that has to be taught sometimes," she explained.

Young mothers need to be educated on the benefits of breastfeeding, correct positioning of the baby, duration and frequency of feeds, enhancing milk supply, how to solve problems encountered while feeding, weaning, expressing milk and returning to work, said doctors.

“With the support system provided by joint families no longer easily available, and with doctors in hospitals hard-pressed for time, the new mother has no one to help her with this basic problem," said Dr Aarti Khandelwal, gynaecologist.

The council, however, has come up with an effective solution to this problem. “Since October 1 last year, we have entered into a public-private partnership, where trained mothers, who have successfully breastfed their babies, come to our hospital and train our new mothers," said Mondkar.

The trained mothers visit the post-natal care ward regularly and offer counselling to the new moms, she explained, adding that the mother support group model is successful at Sion, Nair and KEM hospitals.

Anita Dongre’s Clay Wellness Center at Pali Village, Bandra, even has a ‘Lactation Counselling Center', where new moms are taught the nuances of breastfeeding. Dr Preeti Gangan, lactation consultant at Khar clinic Gyneguide, is currently organising a workshop which gives tips to women on the correct way to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding is said to protect the baby from gastrointestinal, respiratory and ear infections and from allergies, obesity, childhood leukemia, Type 1 diabetes and high blood pressure.

It also helps the mother lose weight, and can lower the mother’s stress levels. It can reduce post partum bleeding and reduce the risk of reproductive cancer, also protecting the mother against osteoporosis later in life.