Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity as defined by WHO. In Ayurveda also, definition of Swastha (Health) as given by Acharya Sushruta, it is mentioned that along with body i.e. physical (Dhatu, Agni & Mala), Atma (soul), Mana (psyche), Indriyan (senses) should also be healthy. Both physical and mental health are interdependent so the diseases. Thus, it can be said that physical health of a person affects the mental condition and mental health of a person affects his physical body functions. This is a very common thing to see if somebody has fever, cold, cough or any other disease affecting him physically then he doesn’t feel good psychologically also affecting his mental health.
If we talk of breastfeeding,
The development of breasts and the process of milk secretion starts just after conception, which is continued throughout pregnancy so that after delivery, breasts are fully prepared to feed the new life whose wholesome and healthy diet is mother’s breast milk only. There are two things that should be understood that milk formation and secretion in breasts is one process and its ejection through breast nipples to the baby mouth is second. The formation of breast milk occurs through the food that the woman eats. So, if the digestive power (Agni) of a woman is good then there is proper breast milk formation through Ahara Rasa. As mentioned by Acharya Charaka, Atichintan (overthinking, anxiety, worries) is responsible for vitiating Rasa affecting the breast milk, making it vitiated. After delivery, this formed milk needs to be ejected through nipples so that the baby can take milk and in Ayurveda, cause of milk ejection as told by Acharya Sushruta is by thought, sight or touch of the child and also with his physical contact but the main factor responsible for continuous flow of breast milk is affection and unconditional love of mother for her child. In modern science, milk ejection reflex is described which is a neuroendocrine reflex initiated not only by suckling but also by mother handling the baby, hearing the cry or even thinking of feeding. This milk ejection reflex is inhibited by factors such as pain, anxiety, breast engorgement or adverse psychic conditions like depression. This whole reflex is mediated by the hormone oxytocin often called the bonding hormone, synthesized in supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. The release of oxytocin during breastfeeding strengthens the maternal infant bond and aids in regulating stress and mood. That is why in modern science, importance is given to rooming in i.e. baby should always be with mother, for successful breastfeeding. So, it can be said that for proper feeding of a child, a mother should be happy, free from all worries and other mental emotions like anxiety, depression etc. and in turn, breastfeeding also helps in preventing various mental problems like postpartum depression and anxiety. In modern science, researches revealed that breastfeeding has a beneficial effect on mother’s mood, stress by elevating oxytocin levels. Breastfeeding mothers have a reduced cortisol response (stress hormone) when faced with social stress and display prolonged and higher quality sleep.
Many times after delivery, women complains of inadequate breast milk but firstly, proper breast milk secretion commonly starts 3rd or 4th day after delivery, second, breast contains adequate amount of milk but ejection is not proper that can happen due to various reasons like mother don’t know how to feed or baby doesn’t know how to suck so it takes time for both mother and baby to learn, if mother doesn’t feel mentally healthy due to improper mental support by family members, she is not taking proper sleep, she is suffering from pain either due to stitches of delivery or backache, third a woman doesn’t know all these things and all these changes are new to her so she started feeling worried, depressed, proper guidance and support should be given by her elder woman family members in terms of counseling, diet, feeding and lifestyle to the mother.
In Ayurveda, while mentioning the causes of Stanyakshaya i.e. inadequate breast milk, the main cause described is anger, grief, excessive coitus (Kama), lack of love & affection towards the baby that causes cessation of milk. Again, the treatment that should be given along with the oral medicines as mentioned in Ayurveda is use of things as desired by the delivered woman (Hrudya dravya), to take rest, no exertion, take sleep properly, happiness, avoid sorrow, anger and fear. So if we see after delivery of a woman, her psychic condition plays a very important role in breastfeeding.
After delivery, a woman needs an emotional as well as physical support from her family so that the changes that took place in her body during pregnancy and delivery, revert back to its normal state and this process takes time – minimum 45 days and maximum 6 months so it is the responsibility of all the family members and other people who takes care of delivered woman to take care of her food, sleep and emotional state. As the baby has taken the nutrition from mother during the gestation period of 9 months, so mother already has less energy and vigor than before, also, during delivery, after bearing so much pain and blood loss, she is in a very tired and less energetic state, needing utmost care and happiness. So, it can be concluded that for a healthy child and mother, breastfeeding is very important not only depending on a woman’s diet but also on the psychological condition of the woman.
