The 16th World Breastfeeding Week is  on from August 1 to 7 and the theme this time is “Breastfeeding: The first hour saves one million babies.” Dr Asha Benakappa, paediatrician and district co-ordinator, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India, has been a crusader of breastfeeding promotions. She has been instrumental in converting all government hospitals and corporation maternity homes into baby-friendly institutions.

Awarded the Best City Coordinator seven times in a row for her contribution in creating awareness and demystifying myths about breastfeeding, Dr Asha has also been serving as a member of Karnataka Task Force of Infant Milk Substitutes Act, which prevents mothers from feeding artificial milk substitutes. Metrolife chatted with Dr Asha about the campaign this year.

What is the theme for this year’s campaign to promote breastfeeding?
It’s the first hour that saves one million babies because initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth is the most vital step towards reducing infant mortality and the overwhelmingly high neonatal mortality rate. Initiation after day one is associated with a two to four-fold increase in risk of infant mortality. In India, 2,50,000 neonates can be saved annually by just one act. That amounts to 22 per cent.

What should be done to implement this?
Women need to be given minimum essential support. For example, assistance at the time of birth to initiate the process of breast feeding, a policy to keep the baby and mother together after delivery, avoidance of giving pre-lacteal feed and artificial nipple. Lack of this support is posing great danger to the next generation, as more people are blinded by the myths concerning breast feeding.

What are the benefits of initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth?
Early initiation builds on the baby's innate reflexes. During the first one hour after birth, a baby is particularly alert. So, they are more likely to suckle effectively, continue to breastfeed exclusively and thus adopt optimal infant feeding practices later. The baby learns to recognise his or her mother's smell. The mother's body produces the hormone oxytocin and the process of emotional bonding starts. The flow of milk is enhanced.

Also, the mother's body helps to keep the baby warm. This is specially important for low birth-weight babies, saving them from hypothermia, one of the causes of infant deaths. Secondly, the baby is calmer and breathing and heart rate are also steadier. The mother's commensal (normal) bacteria start colonising the baby's skin and gut, which protects baby against harmful bacteria in the environment. Early initiation reduces post-partum bleeding, a major cause of maternal death in developing countries.

Every new born, when placed on the mother’s abdomen soon after the birth, has the natural ability to find his or her mother's breast to take the first breastfeed known as the Breast Crawl.

What about the practice of giving other milk or substance after birth, prevalent in several communities?
The practice of giving any other food or fluids before first breastfeed interferes with the mother's confidence.
It reduces oxytocin or the let down reflex, suckling stimulation, prolactin production and protection from infection.
 The first milk—colostrum is highly nutritious. Since it cannot be seen or squeezed many women resort to other feeds. Babies can get colostrum by their powerful suckling reflexes. Early feeding with non-human milk protein.

World breastfeeding week 
 Myths and misconceptions about breastfeeding
Myth
Formula milk is easier to feed.     
Truth
Breastfeeding is the easiest. No need to sterilise the bottle, nipple and prepare the feed, which is time consuming and expensive. Breast milk is free and ready any time.   
 Myth
Bottle feed gives the exact measure of milk the baby has consumed, while in breastfeeding, there’s no way of knowing how much baby has had.
Truth
A simple rule tells you that if a baby passes urine six times a day, then he/she is drinking enough milk. Mother’s milk is made to order for the baby and is species specific, whereas with substitute milk, it could be either too think or too light, too sweet or too less and may be unsuitable for baby.
Myth
Breastfeeding is not good for maintaining figure.
Truth
On the contrary breastfeeding facilitates burning up ‘Lactation calories’ that is stored during pregnancy. If the baby is bottle-fed, mother retains these extra calories.