Only 47% B'luru babies breastfed within an hour of birth: survey

Only 46.9% children are breastfed within one hour of their birth in Bengaluru, according to a survey conducted to provide data to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to doctors, while a few are ignorant, others are mostly reluctant. World Breastfeeding Week is observed in the first week of August.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr Asha Benakappa, director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, said even as it is known that the institutional delivery is about 84%, not all newborns are breastfed.

“Government uprooted people from the traditional set up and insisted on institutional deliveries. At institutes, not all are trained to put the child on the mother’s milk soon after birth. The woman will be unable to do it herself,” she said.

Logistics pay a key role, Dr Benakappa explained. “The width of the labour bed is another thing that ought to be considered. Even if one wants to put the child next to the mother, there is usually lack of space. It is important to check if she is in comfortable clothing while entering the labour room and if it will facilitate breastfeeding soon after.”

Myths
Myths are a deterring factor too, she said. “Women from a few communities wait for honey to be given to the child first. We see that children who are given formula milk have a tendency to be obese and diabetic.

Studies suggest that aggressive behaviour, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, alcoholism, perverted behaviour are possible side-effects. Since the cuddle harmone is not released, the overall growth of the child can be affected.”

Dr N Karthik Nagesh, chairman, neonatology at the Manipal Advanced Children’s Centre, Manipal Hospitals, said according to the WHO and UNICEF guidelines, breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality and morbidity.

Early preparation
Preparation must begin much early, said Nagesh. “Sometimes, mothers who have gone through extreme stress during pregnancy and maternal exhaustion do not feed the children on birth. Some do not mentally prepare themselves for breastfeeding. Mothers who have highly stressed out professional careers complain that they do not secrete enough milk.”

He said there has been a surge in the number of women breastfeeding in the developed nations.

“When the entire world is taking to it, there should be no reason why developing countries like ours should not,” he said.
DH News Service