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Subject:
From:
Norma Ritter <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 4 Aug 2005 10:02:51 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
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text/plain (90 lines)
This is just one of a whole slew of articles about breastfeeding in
India. To judge from all the google alerts I am getting this week, WBW
is getting a lot of publicity all over the world!
norma


http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?fromtimeline=true&id=76967&callid=1&template=Health
Thursday, August 4, 2005 (City):

This week is being celebrated all over the world as breast feeding week

But while there is a strong tradition of breast feeding in India, the
practice is still surrounded by myth and superstition.

In rural Rajasthan, valuable colostrums, which is secreted in the
first few hours after birth, is rarely given to infants.

"In the first two days, no milk comes. We give a child water and
jaggery. The first milk that comes is dirty. You can't give a child
that yellow fluid," says Santosh Bai.

While Santosh Bai denied her children colostrum, in other rural
communities a newborn is breast fed only at an auspicious time.

Noble intitiative

But a UNICEF initiative launched with the state government is now
fighting these old wives tales.

Draupadi, Santosh Bai's daughter-in-law fed her new born baby half an
hour after delivery with the support of her local health worker

"I tell people to feed their baby in the first half hour after birth
and give them colostrum. It helps build immunity. That's very
important," says Krishna, community health worker.

Easy substitutes

What is surprising is that denying babies breast milk is not just
governed by superstition alone.

In urban India, formula milk is an easy substitute for mother's feed.

In many hospitals, doctors themselves suggest that the new born baby
be given formula feed for the first 24 hours, especially if the baby
has been delivered by caesarian.

"After a caesarian, a mother feels she cannot feed her baby. But after
the effects of anesthesia wear off, in two to three hours, the mother
must feed her child," says Dr Usha Acharya, HoD, Pediatric Medicine,
SMS Hospital.

The worrying fallout of this trend is that despite family incomes
going up, more children are malnourished today in Rajasthan than they
were 10 years ago.

Grim situation

"The situation is bad in Rajasthan. Fifty-five per cent of children
suffer from one or other degree of malnutrition and 19 per cent
children suffer from severe malnutrition," says Dr Satish Kumar, State
Representative, UNICEF.

Of the infant mortality cases in the world, one fourth are from India
alone where 60 per cent of the deaths are directly or indirectly due
to malnourishment.

While there is a strong tradition of breast feeding in india both
rural and urban mothers rarely follow the correct methods of
breastfeeding.

This includes giving the infant only mother's milk for the first six
months and giving it valuable colostrum in the first few hours after
birth.

According to an international study, 19 per cent of infant deaths can
be followed if breast feeding is done properly.

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