Media vital to promote breastfeeding
Friday, August 01, 2014
By Abhishek Vissapragada
The World Breastfeeding Week is underway and the theme for this year is 'Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal - For Life!' which asserts the importance of increasing and sustaining the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding
While most of us are aware of breastfeeding and how it helps the mother and the child, doctors feel that more can be done to create awareness about it.
Dr Suman Bijlani, online consulting gynaecologist at gyneguide.com felt that it would be a good idea to have awareness campaigns about breastfeeding in Mumbai. “Yes, there is a lack of awareness and, more so, about the techniques of breastfeeding as I have seen women coming to me with queries about how to breastfeed their baby. At times, even after explaining, the instructions are not well adhered to,” Dr Bijlani said.
“But by and large, today's women are more receptive to the idea of breastfeeding because they get motivation from their family to do so,” added Dr Bijlani.
Dr Rajshri Katke, Medical Superintendent of the State-run Cama and Albless Hospital, who feels that though the Indian culture encourages mothers to breastfeed their children and make them aware about the benefits of breastfeeding, the younger generation in Mumbai needs awareness campaigns about breastfeeding.
Speaking about the improved scenario, Dr Bijlani added, “Earlier there wasn't any motivation for women from their families. The media didn't give much coverage to this issue. Even the doctors didn't feel the need to educate women about breastfeeding. But today, the scenario is different. Among the educated class, people are motivating mothers to breastfeed their children.”
According to Dr Katke, people have always known about the benefits of breastfeeding, but these days awareness is more with regards to how it is beneficial for not only the baby but also the mother.
According to Dr Bijlani, the media can play a big role in making women aware about breastfeeding. “Television can make a better impact wherein celebrities can endorse and promote breastfeeding. Social media is also another medium through which awareness campaigns can be conducted,” said Dr Bijlani.
Common myths
- Colostrum, the first milk secreted after birth, is not good
- A mother may not have enough milk to feed the baby
- A mother loses her figure
- Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk the mother has
- Feeding should be done according to a schedule
- Baby should be breastfed within the first hour after normal delivery and after three or four hours of a caesarean delivery
- Sit in a position that will not tire the mother
- Latching method ie the baby should get the entire area of the breasts to suck on and not just the nipples
- Women should feed the baby from one side of their breasts at a time
- Exclusive breastfeeding is good for the first six months
Reference Link
http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/media-vital-to-promote-breastfeeding/article_116325
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