Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a child’s health and survival. However, contrary to WHO recommendations, fewer than half of infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed (only breastmilk for 6 months since birth).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies that help protect against many common childhood illnesses. It provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child\u2019s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third during the second year of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests<\/a>, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0production of breast milk\u00a0begins during pregnancy. When the baby is born, the new mother will have only a small amount of milk for the first day or two; which is more than enough for your newborn. The baby is getting enough milk if they have one wet diaper on day one, two wet diapers on day two, and so on. In the first two weeks after a baby is born, breast milk progresses through three main stages: colostrum, transitional breast milk, and mature breast milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colostrum, the first type of breast milk, is present at the end of pregnancy and during the first few days after a baby is born. The amount of colostrum that the body makes is small, but that small volume contains everything the newborn needs in the first few days of life. It’s also a natural laxative that helps prevent jaundice by clearing the baby’s body of meconium: the first thick, black, tarry stool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Transitional breast milk is a combination of colostrum and mature milk. When the breast milk begins to come in (three to five days after delivery), it mixes with colostrum and gradually transitions to mature milk over the course of a few days or a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Milk changes over to mature breast milk by the time a baby is about two weeks old. Compared to colostrum, mature milk is lower in protein but higher in fat and carbohydrates. Mature milk contains about 90% water to meet your baby’s fluid needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The body creates breast milk in response to pregnancy and the suckling of a baby at the breast. But to continue making breast milk after your baby is born, you will need to breastfeed or pump\/extract. Extracting\/removing milk from the breasts stimulates the mother\u2019s body to make more milk. The more often one breastfed or pumps\/extracts, the more milk is made, thereby establishing a mutually dependent physiological process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Breastfeeding takes time and practice for both mothers and babies. Many mothers experience challenges with breastfeeding, but the right support can help overcome these issues. Some of the common breastfeeding issues are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Women have distinct nutritional requirements throughout their lives \u2013 especially before and during pregnancy and while breastfeeding when nutritional vulnerability is greatest. Ensuring women have nutritious diets and adequate services and care is fundamental for the survival and well-being of mothers and their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before pregnancy, women need nutritious and safe diets to establish sufficient reserves for pregnancy. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, energy and nutrient needs increase.\u00a0Poor diets lacking in key nutrients like\u2013 iodine, iron, folate, calcium and zinc\u00a0can cause anemia, pre-eclampsia, hemorrhage\u00a0and even death in mothers. Poor nutrition during breastfeeding\u00a0makes it more challenging for mothers to replenish their nutrient stores and meet their additional dietary needs. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breastfeeding mothers generally need more calories to meet their nutritional needs while breastfeeding. An additional 330 to 400 kilocalories (kcal) per day is recommended for well-nourished breastfeeding mothers, compared with the amount they were consuming before pregnancy (approximately 2,000 to 2,800 kcal per day for breastfeeding women versus 1,600 to 2,400 kcal per day for moderately active, non-pregnant women who are not breastfeeding).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, women do not need to limit or avoid specific foods while breastfeeding. Mothers should be encouraged to eat a healthy and diverse diet. In general, there is no specific food to avoid when breastfeeding and no evidence in respect of a protective effect of a prophylactic maternal exclusion diet during pregnancy or during lactation on the occurrence of atopic diseases in infants. Unless one notices that the baby reacts within 6 hours every time one eats a certain food, there is no need to stay away from any particular food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smile Foundation’s women empowerment programme, Swabhiman<\/a><\/strong>, collaborates with dedicated corporate and individual donors to champion SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (Target 3.1 and 3.2- of reducing maternal mortality and neonatal mortality & under-5 mortality, respectively). <\/p>\n\n\n\nStages of Breastmilk Production<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Colostrum\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Transitional Milk\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Mature Milk\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Breastmilk Supply<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Common Breastfeeding Problems<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Diet Considerations for Breastfeeding Mothers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Smile Foundation and Health of Mothers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n