‘Breastfeeding women need more supportive workplaces’

Nagpur: It may seem the most natural thing to do after a child is born, but breastfeeding is not as prevalent as one would like to believe. Less than 40% children across the world are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of birth as is the mandate. World Health Organization (WHO) aims to increase this proportion to at least 50% in the next 10 years by focusing on working mothers.

The theme for the World Breastfeeding Week that is underway is ‘Breastfeeding and Work. Let’s make it work!’. Working mothers in and around the city are managing to provide exclusive breastfeeding to their children for as long as possible with the help of supportive spouses and families. However, they all agree that there is need for private employers to be more accommodating towards lactating mothers.

“Breastfeeding is an important public health issue as its benefits are seen in the mother as well as the child. It protects the mothers from lifestyle disorders like diabetes and cancers. The nutrition provided by breast milk is so perfect for the child’s growth and development, specially in case of premature kids, that it is called amruttulya or comparable to nectar. Breastfeeding also improves emotional and intelligence quotient of the child,” said paediatrician Dr Archana Patel, vice-president of Lata Medical Research Foundation (LMRF) that runs a breastfeeding counselling centre in the city. She said that despite the statistics showing improvement in prevalence of breastfeeding, there is much more scope for improvement.

Mother of a 15-month-old baby, Savita Meshram would rush home every time she got a call from her mother-in-law to feed her child when it woke up. She could do this because of the support given by her employers.

Dr Priyanka Kuhite said it was her mother-in-law who took over the domestic responsibilities and ensured she ate well during lactation that made breastfeeding easy for her. “I also ensured that my work schedule was adjusted to the baby’s sleep schedule,” she added. For Harsha Dhopte, it was her husband who shared the baby’s duties, including feeding it the expressed milk while she was at work.

ASHA worker from Takalghat village, Jyoti Tembhurkar, said the prevalence of breastfeeding is improving even among rural working women. “Those who work in factories, farms or temporary sites take their children along most times. We counsel all pregnant women that breastfeeding should not be compromised for any reason,” she said.

Paediatrician Dr Uday Bodhankar believes that the prevalence can be further improved if all employers provide a reasonably long maternity leave to adjust to the new life.



BENEFITS OF BREASTMILK

* Free of adulteration

* Easily digestible

* Suited to the nutritional needs of the child

* Has important nutrients, vitamins, anti-infective, antiallergic properties

* Protects both mother and child from various diseases



BREASTFEEDING IN INDIA

* 96% Indian children under age five have been breastfed

* Breastfeeding was initiated within half an hour of birth for 29% urban children and 21% rural children

* Breastfeeding within an hour of birth was started for 30% urban children and 22% rural children

* There was no breastfeeding for 35% urban children and 48% rural children for 24-hours after birth



WHO’S SUGGESTIONS

* All employers must be legally bound to provide a minimum of four months of paid maternity leave

* Employers must provide a place and time for mothers to pump milk at work

* Legal provisions to prevent discrimination against women and mothers at workplace

* Working mothers must make provision for on-site child care, flexible working hours, part-time or bringing babies to work