As the World Breastfeeding Week celebrations rolls by (Aug 1st -7th) here is a post celebrating this very primal bonding activity between a mother and her offspring. What comes to your mind when you think about breast feeding? To me it is the purity, the complete nourishment and a sense of calm experienced by the baby feeling the presence of its mothers skin on its own. Instead, what we often get to witness is a harassed sleep deprived woman, an incessantly crying baby and an opinionated family who only make matters worse. Read on to learn more about the common myths about breastfeeding and why its not true.
Breast feeding was almost a given in earlier times but with the dawn of the infant milk substitutes these formula feeds became almost the norm and ‘breast milk was no longer considered the best’. It took the government and health organizations worldwide several years to realise the harm done by the powerful milk substitute lobby. By then the damage was already done. A generation of mothers were convinced to feed their children these milk substitutes as they would make their babies plumper, fatter and healthier! Ironically it’s the same women who have now become grandmothers and vehemently advocated their ideas onto the young parents!
I have in my medical practice met several new mothers who look like ‘deer in the headlights’ completely clueless about all things child care, breast feeding included! They rely on the sole advice provided by their mothers or mother in laws and do not dare to cross their lines. If the pain of labour wasn’t shocking enough, the agony of feeding the child every 2 hours the first couple of months with no rest or sleep is enough to drive any woman crazy! Added to this madness is the unforgiving comments of all who come to visit the newborn- ‘baby is crying excessively’, ‘baby is not sleeping at night?, ’Baby is too lean’, ‘you must be producing less milk’, ‘you should shift to formula feeding instead!’ These accusatory comments will make any mother feel like a ‘bad mother’ and invariably this is how women shift from breastfeeding to formula feeding within the first couple of months.
Very few amongst us know that the benefits offered by breastfeeding goes much beyond nourishment of the baby. This liquid elixir filled with all the goodness that our babies need provides dual benefit to both the mother and child. Thus it becomes very important to steer clear of these myths about breastfeeding for the health of mother and baby.
Firstly for the mother:
· Involution of the uterus– breast feeding triggers a hormonal response in your body that helps the uterus to retract and go back into the pelvis like how it was before pregnancy. This aids in faster healing of the woman after delivery.
· Bonding– a bond so deep and pure to know that you are enough to nourish your baby and satisfy his/her needs.
· Losing oodles of weight– Breastfeeding is hard work and is equivalent of working out and burning at least 500-600 calories in a day. So if you want that svelte figure go for it.
· Saved from cancer!– Did you know that women who breastfeed their offspring have lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who have never breastfed? Also, for every year you breast feed the risk of cancer further reduces by 4.3%. Please read my blog here where I have mentioned how diseases like cancer have a high latency period and how to recognize signs of ill health.
· Another unlikely benefit– Contraception!! Breastfeeding if done correctly, exclusively that is- demand feeding with at least two night feeds is a good contraception for women at least for the first six months after delivery. But remember it’s not a fool proof method, there have been some happy surprises to this rule!
· Economical– yes, you heard it right! The most nourishing meal your baby needs and that too at no extra cost! What more can you ask for?
For the baby:
·The greatest immunity booster that your baby needs- it has all the immunoglobulins and antibodies that gets passed on from the mother. No wonder it’s called the ‘first vaccine’ for the child.
· Protected from infections– breast fed babies have fewer infections be it digestive or respiratory. That means lesser colds, lesser diarrhoea and fewer trips to the hospital!
· Higher IQ– did you know that breast fed babies have on an average at least 5 IQ points higher than bottle fed children. That’s like getting extra marks for good handwriting in a school exam!
· Future protections– many studies have conclusively proven that breast fed babies are protected against future lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Way to give a healthy start to your baby!
· Other protections –Breast fed babies have fewer allergies and lower risk of developing bronchial asthma. Also, diseases like coeliac diseases and irritable bowel syndrome is lower among breast fed babies.
So now that you know of all the wonderful things this simple act promises let me tell you that it’s not so easy as it seems.
There are several deep rooted cultural practices and beliefs surrounding breastfeeding which sometimes pose a unique dilemma for the new mother- to breastfeed or not to breastfeed!
Myths about breastfeeding
Commemorating the 7 days of this breastfeeding week I have listed below the 7 most common myths about breastfeeding which I have come across in my clinical practice which I would like to debunk here. Let’s get cracking!
1. Myth 1- ‘Milk does not come the first three days after birth. So feed the baby sugar water or honey water!’ This harmful practice is called “prelacteal feeds’ and it was very common practice earlier. Remember the ancient practice of feeding a little gold scrapped on a piece of wood to the newborn? This supposedly would bring the baby prosperity and good luck.
Fact: feeding babies this young anything other than breast milk is going to introduce infections to their tender gut. Instead feed them ‘Colustrum’- also called ‘liquid gold’, the yellow milk that is produced by a woman for the first three days after birth. Fondly known as the first vaccine given to a baby, loaded with the mother’s antibodies and fat, it is the best gift for posterity for your child!
2. Myth 2-‘Feeding baby every 2 hours: you must feed the baby every two hours come rain or shine. If the baby is asleep wake the baby and feed!’ This is a very popular myth and is actually totally unwanted. A baby should be fed as and when it is hungry and crying. It can be 3 hours or even just 1 hour since your last feed! Timing of feeds every 2 hours is only recommended for very small babies (<2.5kg) who are too tired to cry. If your baby is of a healthy weight do not wake him/her up for feeds, the baby is smart enough to wake you up!
3. Myth 3- ‘baby is always crying, your milk must be insufficient’. This is one of the most common myths about breastfeeding and the most common complaint I have heard from mothers. Makes them feel miserable, helpless and less of a woman! Many shift to formula feeding for this reason and then it is a point of no return!
Fact: Breastfeeding is a demand and supply game. It takes time to understand your child’s needs and produce milk accordingly. Do not give up early! Every single woman can produce enough milk for her baby. Every single on of us! Even a mother of twins will be able to produce enough milk to sustain both her children for the first six months. This trust and confidence in ourselves and our own bodies can help women overcome our mental stumbles and establish great lactation within a couple of weeks. So ladies be patient for the first couple of months.
4. Myth 4- ‘breast milk alone is insufficient for babies after 3 months, so we must start them on a porridge’. Wrong again! In the first 6 months, babies need to be fed only breast milk and nothing else. Did you know that even water is not to be given? This is called ‘exclusive breast feeding’ and would protect their tender guts from all unwanted infections. Complementary feeds like mashed veggies and porridge should however begin from 6 months onward. Why start if baby is feeding well you might ask? Well, after 6 months the babies’ calorie needs are higher and they do require extra food to grow, roll, walk and talk!
5. Myth 5- ‘stop breastfeeding once the baby has started solids. The longer you feed the more difficult it will be to stop’. At least the first part of this statement is among the major myths about breastfeeding and completely false. Many women feel that once the baby has started on solid feeds breastfeeding is pointless. However, The World Health Organisation recommends women to continue breastfeeding their children upto at least 2 years of age. Remember the benefits I had mentioned earlier? The longer you feed the more the benefits.
6. Myth 6- ‘working women cannot breastfeed their children’. Yes, working women have it a little bit tougher than homemakers but all is not lost. Once your maternity leave is nearing its end, invest in a good breast pump. This device will become your best friend and help express breast milk faster. You can then store it in the fridge to be given for the baby during the day in your absence!
7. Myth 7- ‘breastfeeding and bottle feeding can be done simultaneously!’ For a baby, drinking out of the bottle is much easier and requires far lesser effort than breast feeding. So once you introduce the bottle, the baby will prefer the bottle over the breast. This is called ‘nipple confusion’. If there is no active suckling there will be lower milk production and ultimately lead to completely switching over to formula feeds. So ladies ditch the bottle and if you do have to feed expressed milk use the cup and spoon or the traditional serving bowl ‘paladai/bondla’ instead!
While the first few months are especially challenging with a woman feeling overwhelmed with all that’s happening around. Do not worry! The going always gets better! Seek help from those around especially your spouse and family.
Confidence in yourself and the ability of your body to rise up to the occasion is what is needed. Successful lactation is when a woman is totally relaxed, stress free and well nourished herself so that she can confidently feed her child. As a spouse or a family member what can you do to help and clear the myths about breastfeeding ?.
1. Provide good nutritious food to the mother– she needs two extra meals around 600 more calories than what she was eating before her pregnancy. A diet rich in proteins like lentils,nuts, meat, eggs and milk and lots of water to drink will help produce good quality milk.
2. Galactagogue foods– they say ‘drink milk to produce more milk’. Apart from milk however there are several other foods proven to increase milk production and these foods are called ‘galactogogues’. In our Indian diet drumstick leaves, spinach, fenugreek or methi, salmon are known galactogogues. Please read here to learn more about galactogogues.
3. Relaxed environment– the more relaxed the mother is, the more likely she will be able to establish successful lactation. Take charge of the rest of the chores at home- this includes cooking, taking care of the older children, home repairs and any other mundane daily activities. The mommy-baby market is filled with breastfeeding support devices like the feeding pillow, breast pump, feeding bras and nighties. Gifting mothers these options shows them that you truly care!.
4. Say no to harmful ‘food taboos’– many women even now are forbidden from eating non vegetarian food or even vegetarian sources of protein in their post natal period. Reason being such foods can cause ‘heat’ in the body and harm the baby. What they get to eat instead is plain rice and a watery curry with very little spice or vegetables. Even water is restricted fearing that water can cause water retention and weight gain. Such practices are very detrimental to the health of the mother and would lead to very poor quality of milk production.
5. Support the needs of the mother– If she voices out her problems do not isolate her but try to find out viable solutions to her problem. Breastfeeding is no joke and the whole family needs to pitch in to help out. That includes feeding the mother first in the family and taking care of the baby until she finishes eating, shielding the mother from nosy relatives and their opinions, waking up at nights along with her for diaper changes and overall just being there for her!
6. Provide encouragement– some women figure it out earlier and some take time to understand and clear these common myths about breastfeeding. Others might give up and resort to bottle feeding. As long as we have a happy mother and a healthy baby, it is alright. This breastfeeding week let’s take a pledge to support all mothers whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding to comfortably do so without any stigma or shame.