An article on importance of breast feeding week
1st August – 8th August
Breastfeeding is a beautiful connection of mother’s pleasure and infant’s privilege. Stana (Breast) is also termed as pranayatana (where prana resides) as it is the store of nectar for baby. Nature has designed the breast nearer to heart at the site of anaahat chakra which connects the mother and baby emotionally.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
World Breastfeeding Week 2023- Enabling Breastfeeding- Making A Difference For Working Parents
This year, the theme will focus on breastfeeding and employment/work. It will showcase the impact of paid leave, workplace support and emerging parenting norms on breastfeeding through the lens of parents themselves. Target audiences including governments, policymakers, workplaces, communities and parents will be engaged to play their critical roles in empowering families and sustaining breastfeeding-friendly environments in the post-pandemic work life. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected childbearing women by increasing the risk of unemployment and livelihood loss, and by disrupting access to prenatal, postnatal and further breastfeeding support and services in the healthcare system. We need to take into account the lessons learnt during the pandemic and update parental social protection policies that will address the current situation.
Objectives of WABA World Breastfeeding
Week 2023
- INFORM: people about working parents’ perspectives on breastfeeding and parenting
- ANCHOR: optimal paid leave and workplace support as important tools to enable breastfeeding
- ENGAGE: with individuals and organizations to enhance collaboration and support for breastfeeding at work
- GALVANISE: action on improving working conditions and relevant support for breastfeeding
Concept of Breast Feeding in Ayurveda
Exclusive breast feeding, according to Ayurveda results in a child’s growth, strength, longevity, and good health.
Breastfeeding is largely acknowledged as the healthiest form of nutrition for human newborns. It should begin as soon as feasible after birth as it also has numerous advantages for both the baby and the mother Breast milk protects the child against a variety of bacteria and many diseases. feeding has got many digestive suitable for the newly developed digestive mechanism of the baby. Ayurveda describes Vata- Pitta-Kapha dosha qualities on the milk, which is completely affected by mother’s diet Consumption of vitiated breast milk may cause various disorders along with inadequate growth and development of the child.
Characteristics of Normal Healthy Breast Milk.
As per Charaka acharya ,healthy breast milk/ Sampat-Stanya- is that milk which is normal in colour, fragrance, taste, and touch, and that which mixes uniformly when poured into water blesses the kid with sustenance (Pushtikar) and good health (Aarogyam). He describes the Stanya (Breastmilk) of such qualities as Uttama or best. whereas according to acharya surutha,Milk that is sheeta (cold), pure, free of contaminants, sweet in taste, combines uniformly in water, that which doesn’t form streaks and froths when mixed in water, are the best Stanya quality attributes.
Vidhi – Stanapana: The Method of Breastfeeding.
According to Acharya Charaka, a mother should start breast feeding her kid after taking a bath and wearing clean clothes. As well as it is instructed to tie prajasthapan medicines (such as brahmi, amogha, shatavari, and others) on her head.Breast feeding begins after cleansing the child alongside the mother and cleansing of the mother’s breasts. It is mentioned significantly in the ayurveda classics that expressing a small amount of milk and chanting the specified mantra is also beneficial while breastfeeding.
Contraindications of Breastfeeding
There is an ideal state for the women’s body, when she is a nursing mother, as how her body affects the milk production and in turn the health of the toddler. Women who are kshudhita (hungry), shranta (tired), shokaarta (grieving), dushta dhathu (vitiated of bodily tissues), atisthula (obese), jwara (suffering from fever), garbhini (pregnant), kshinita (emaciated), and taking noncongenial diets, among other physical and psychological disorders, should not breastfeed their children. Breastfeeding is also contraindicated in modern medicine for moms who have septicaemia, active tuberculosis, breast cancer, Substance misuse, severe neurosis/psychosis, active HIV viral infection.
Stanya apanayana-vidhi – The weaning process
After the advent of teeth, the kid should be gradually weaned and given goat or cow’s milk along with a light and brimhana (nourishing) diet. It’s a crucial period for toddlers as most of them find it hard to fight the urge to not drink mother’s milk that they had been enjoying since they were born. Weaning is a stage when solid and table foods take the place of milk. Most infants reduce the volume and frequency of breast feeding between 6 and 12 months of age, after becoming accustomed to solid foods and liquids. Weaning begins at 6 months of age, with one meal introduced at a time while milk is continued until 12 months.
Dietary tips for lactating mother
During the breastfeeding period, the mother should eat a varied and wholesome diet. The calorie requirement is increased by about 200 kilocalories per day. Breastfeeding requires a high energy consumption for the mother. Therefore, fasting should not be undertaken under any circumstances. The activity of sucking strengthens and tightens the connective tissue of the mammary gland. For successful lactation, apart from general dietary rules, lactating mother should follow certain specific dietary conducts during first 45 days after the delivery.
- Considering the strength and digestive power of Sutika (Recently delivered mother), she should take easy to digest, liquid diet like gruels (Yavagu) made up of Chaval(Rice) / Yava (Barley), Daliya (Crushed wheat), Mudga yusha (thick soup of Mung bean/green gram) with sufficient amount of Ghee/Oil during the first 7 days.
- Food of Sutika shall be processed with Deepaniya dravya like Jeera (Cuminseeds), Maricha (Black pepper), Shunthi (Dry ginger) and Pippali(Long pepper).
- 8th day onwards Jangala mamsa rasa (meat/chicken soup) if accustomed and normal diet can be practiced.
- Mother should drink Milk medicated by adding Maricha (Blackpepper) and Pippalimula (Root of long pepper or Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus.)
- Avoid factors causing suppression of Breast milk- like Krodham (Anger), Shoka (Grief), Laghu (Taking light diet),Aayaasam (Excessive physical exercise), Rukshaannapaanam (Food devoid of oily substances) etc
- During the breastfeeding period, alcohol should be avoided, smoking should be avoided and drugs should be avoided. All these substances pass through the blood into the mother’s milk and to the baby.
An alternative to breast milk
As per ayurveda, in the deficiency of breast milk, the concept of Dhatri to feed the baby gains its relevance. This is due to the fact that baby should not only be supplemented with food but also be provide with an affectionate experienced and nurturing support. A dhatri should be free from disease,having living children, having profuse lactation and free from carelessness. Acharya also explain about supplement milk like goat milk, cow’s milk, laghupanchamool siddha milk (medicated milk) etc in the absence of mother’s or dhatri’s milk.
As per modern science, initial or pre-feeds are best suited to the child’s digestive capabilities. They have a low protein content adapted to the newborn. This adaptation helps to reduce the risk of infant obesity. Initial formulas also contain only lactose as the only carbohydrate most digestible by infants. They are adequate throughout the 1st year of life, supplemented by complementary foods after the first 6 months.
Conclusion
According to the universal epidemiology on breastfeeding, it prevent 8,23,000 annual death in children younger than 5 year and 20000 annual death of mother from breast carcinoma.Government of India has launched National Breastfeeding Promotion Programme- MAA (mothers’ absolute affection) to ensure adequate awareness is generated among masses, especially mothers, on the benefits of breastfeeding. Despite breastfeeding being one of the most important interventions for child survival, a dismal 64.9% children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months in India. Around 20% new-borns deaths and 13% under-five deaths can be prevented by early initiation of breastfeeding.
Since the eras, Acharyas has given enormous importance on breastfeeding in accordance with its proper formation, secretion, method of feeding,its abnormalities and management. Along with putting forward the slogan –
Breastfeeding is not an option, it’s a responsibility.
