Ensuring proper breastfeeding practices among mothers for their newborn babies is a huge problem in Jharkhand. According to Annual Health Survey (AHS) 2012-13 only 43.3 per cent mothers have initiated for breastfeeding within one hour of birth and 50. 2 per cent have followed exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of birth.
The information was disclosed by specialists while inaugurating World Breastfeeding Week by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in the state capital on Friday.
“It has been noticed that most of the mothers delivering their babies normally prefer giving milk of goat or cow, herbs, water or honey in the first hour of birth instead of breastfeeding which should be avoided. Also it is noticed that very few mothers whose babies are born through caesarian breastfeed their babies in the first hour of birth,” UNICEF Jharkhand Chief Job Zachariah said.
He added, “Few mothers follow breastfeeding till the first six months of baby’s birth. No other liquid or solid food should be given in this duration.” In order to prevent death of children, reduce malnutrition, obesity and maintain baby’s immunity, three breastfeeding practices including breastfeeding initiation within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for first six months of birth and complementary feeding from the seventh month along with breastfeeding should be adopted strictly, as per lancet medical journal.
Besides benefitting the baby, breastfeeding is useful for mother’s health as well. “It reduces post-delivery bleeding and helps mothers to recover fast. Also, it delays the next pregnancy. Mothers who breast feed babies regain their shape quickly as they shed weight at the faster pace,” Zachariah pointed out. The practice is considered to minimize the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and diabetes among mothers. Survey conducted by the UNICEF regarding this custom in the state shows about 50 to 55 per cent of babies in Jharkhand are now born in hospitals and if all hospital-born babies are breast-fed within one hour, the rate of initial breast feeding in the state would have touched 55 percent.
Social Welfare Secretary Rajeev Arun Ekka said that efforts for mother-child’s good health are highly required in the State.
Meanwhile, anganwadi sevikas of Ranchi and Gumla districts present in the function informed that the number of enquiries about pregnancy has increased among women nowadays. “Number of women attending our awareness programmes in anganwadis has increased. Many think first milk (colostrum) is impure as it is yellow colour and therefore it should not be given to the babies. We try to explain them that it is pure and the pain occurring in breast when the baby sucks milk is obvious which later softens the nipples,” Jagannathpur’s Anganwadi Sevika Sujata Khalkho said.
Highlighting on the necessary biological process of baby till six months of age wherein breastfeeding is the only food, State Nutrition Specialist Deepika Sharma said, “A baby should atleast weigh 6.5 kgs, urinate six times and pass stool three times a day till the age of six months. These habits reflect good-health.”