Over 50 per cent of newborns are deprived of colostrum: Docs

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Health professionals have expressed concern over a staggering 58 per cent of newborns being deprived of colostrum during initial hours of birth.

In light of World Breastfeeding week, doctors raised this issue occuring considerably due to lack of awareness, describing it as the first crucial “vaccination” offering nutrition and immunity to the newborns.

Citing official data, lactation consultant and paediatrician, Dr Roshni Sodhi said many mothers miss out on providing this to their infants.

“There is a serious misconception that the first milk should not be offered to newborns and such a myth needs to be denounced. Poor antenatal awareness, less preparedness of new mothers to handle babies immediately after birth and increase in incidences of caesarean sections are among reasons for the low percentage of first-hour feeding,” she said.

Elaborating upon the importance of breastfeeding to mothers, Sodhi said, “When the mother starts feeding the newborn during early hours after birth, she has a reduction in severe vaginal bleeding after childbirth. While creation of a bond with the baby and emotional stability naturally comes with breastfeeding, losing excessive body fat and reduced chances of ovarian and breast cancer in later stages of life are additional benefits.”

Pressing for early initiation of breastfeeding, paediatrician Dr Rajendra Khadke said a lot of stress and anxiety about their ability to feed newborns is observed in first-time young mothers.

Dr Anupam Takalkar, secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Aurangabad chapter, said there is a need for joint effors to help nursing mothers by giving them the knowledge and resources they need for enhancing knowledge about breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding offers remarkable benefits to the child and mother and in turn causes a profound positive impact on families and the society at large,” he said.