Saturday, Aug 07, 2021 07:45 [IST]
Last Update: Saturday, Aug 07, 2021 02:13 [IST]
‘World Breastfeeding Week’ is an annual celebration held every year from August 1 to 7 in over 120 countries by United nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and their partners including individuals, organizations, and governments. The Gangtok Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society- Sikkim state chapter of FOGSI (Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India), and Central Referral Hospital-Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences also celebrated World breastfeeding week by organizing breastfeeding promotion classes for nursing and antenatal mothers at Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Central Referral Hospital from 2nd -7th August 2021. The celebration also marked by organising a breast-feeding promotion campaign webinar organized jointly by Department of Community Medicine, Paediatrics, College of Nursing and Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology-Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Tadong.
Why do we celebrate World Breastfeeding week?
WHO states breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. This year, the theme for breastfeeding week is 'Protect breast feeding: A Shared Responsibility.' World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. The history of this week-long commemoration dates back to the 1990s when the WHO and the UNICEF created a Declaration to promote and support breastfeeding. Later in 1991, to execute UNICEF and WHO's goals, an association was formed called the World Association of Breastfeeding Action. In 1992, a whole week was dedicated to promote this campaign. Since then, first week of August every year is celebrated as World Breastfeeding week.
What are the benefits of Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding has got enormous physical and mental health benefits for both mother and child.
Benefits to infants
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide young infants with the essential nutrients required for growth and development. World Health Organisation says that breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean, inexpensive and acts as the babies' first vaccine, protecting them against many common childhood illnesses. it helps boost the immune system of the infant, lowers the infant mortality rate, lowers the risk of developing infections such as respiratory tract infections, diabetes, allergic diseases, and childhood leukaemia. It also helps enhance the cognitive function of the baby. Additionally, breastmilk is extremely nutritious and healthy for the baby and can help the baby develop a healthy weight.
Breast milk provides abundant and easily absorbed nutritional components, antioxidants, enzymes, immune properties, and live antibodies from mother. Breastfeeding leads to less diarrhea, constipation, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux, and preterm necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) of the newborn baby.
Benefits to the mother
Breastfeeding improves physical health of the mother: Breastfeeding promotes faster weight loss of the mom after birth, burning about 500 extra calories a day to build and maintain a milk supply. Feeding stimulates the uterus to contract and return to normal size. There is less chance of postpartum bleeding, less urinary tract infections, anaemia and less risk of risk of postpartum depression and more positive mood.
Breastfeeding is healthier for mother emotionally: Breastfeeding produces the naturally soothing hormones oxytocin and prolactin that promote stress reduction and positive feelings in the nursing mother. It increases confidence, self-esteem and calmness. Breastfed babies cry less overall, and have fewer incidences of childhood illness. Breastfeeding can support the wellness of body, mind, and spirit for the whole family. Breast milk is always clean and the right temperature. Breast feeding causes increased physical/emotional bonding between mother and child. Breastfeeding promotes more skin-to-skin contact, more holding and stroking. Many feel that affectionate bonding during the first years of life help reduce social and behavioural problems in both children and adults.
Lifetime benefits for mother-Breastfeeding protects the mother from some cancers like breast and ovarian cancers. It also lowers risk long term chronic illness like of rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases.
Should Covid 19 positive mothers nurse?
Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies and protects them against illness. Disruption of breastfeeding can lead to a drop in milk supply, refusal by the infant to take the breast, and a decrease in protective immune factors contained in breastmilk. But mothers will be understandably worried whether coronavirus can be passed on through breastmilk and what they can do to protect themselves and their babies. Here are some tips to keep mothers and babies safe during Covid-19 pandemic.
1.Continue breastfeeding with taking care of hygiene- All mothers are advised to continue breastfeeding, while practicing good hygiene during feeding. Three 3 W’s of hygiene are-Wear a mask during feeding, Wash hands with soap and water before and after touching the baby and Wipe and disinfect surfaces regularly. The main risk for a baby is catching the virus from close contact with the mother or another infected member of the family. If anyone is sick in the household, take extra care to protect your baby by practising the above 3 Ws. Some mothers may choose to wear a mask during feeding as a routine to ensure that their child is fully protected. If a mother suspects that she may have contracted coronavirus, she may wish to express her breastmilk and feed the baby using a clean cup or cup and spoon.
2. Take additional hygiene measures and continue to breastfeed if you fall sick-Mothers who get coronavirus shortly before giving birth and begin breastfeeding, and those who become infected while breastfeeding, will produce immune factors (antibodies) in their milk to protect their baby and enhance the baby’s own immune responses. This means that continuing to breastfeed is the best way to fight the virus and protect your baby.
If you are in isolation for COVID-19 and are sharing a room with your new-born, take the following steps-
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before holding or caring for your newborn. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Wear a mask when within 6 feet of your newborn.
• Keep your newborn more than 6 feet away from you as much as possible.
If a mother does fall ill with symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing, she should seek medical care early, and follow instructions from a health care provider. Mothers who are well enough to breastfeed should continue to do so, taking additional care with hygiene by practicing the 3 Ws including wearing a mask whenever near to the baby.
3. Use a cup and spoon to feed babies with expressed breastmilk when too sick to breastfeed- When mothers are too ill to breastfeed, they should seek immediate medical advice. It may still be possible to express milk and ask a non-infected member of the family to feed the baby using a clean cup or cup and spoon. It will be even more important to follow the 3 Ws at all times to keep the baby healthy and safe.
4. Take extra care when formula feeding- Breastfeeding is the best way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of babies. However, there are instances where a mother is unable to breastfeed or where she has decided not to breastfeed. In addition, the widespread marketing of formula milks undermines the confidence of many mothers and encourages them to feed their babies using bottles and formula milks. In these cases, it is especially important that babies are being fed according to the instructions on the packaging and that extra care is taken with thoroughly washing bottles, teats and any other equipment used. The 3 Ws should be followed at all times.
According to WHO till date, data are not sufficient to conclude vertical transmission of COVID-19 through breastfeeding. In infants, the risk of COVID-19 infection is low, the infection is typically mild or asymptomatic, while the consequences of not breastfeeding and separation between mother and child can be significant. At this point it appears that COVID-19 in infants and children represents a much lower threat to survival and health than other infections that breastfeeding is protective against. The benefits of breastfeeding and nurturing mother-infant interaction to prevent infection and promote health and development are especially important when health and other community services are themselves disrupted or limited. Adherence to infection prevention and control measures is essential to prevent contact transmission between COVID-19 suspected or confirmed mothers and their newborns and young infants. Based on available evidence, WHO recommendations on the initiation and continued breastfeeding of infants and young children also apply to mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Breastfeeding and Covid -19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccines are recommended in pregnancy and all pregnant and lactating women. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the known risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy for both women and babies. All pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the rest of the population, in line with the age group recommendation. There is no plausible mechanism by which any vaccine ingredient could pass to baby through breast milk. No mother therefore not to stop breastfeeding in order to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
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