Breast milk is specifically designed to optimise the baby's growth and development. Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for six months are important for the health of babies. However, data shows that only a small percentage of babies in India are breastfed according to these guidelines. Exclusive breastfeeding provides health benefits for both infants and mothers by reducing disease risk. While more mothers need to be made aware of the benefits of breastfeeding, supporting breastfeeding also requires a collective societal effort. Sustainable breastfeeding practices can help reduce infant and child mortality and contribute to achieving global development goals.

2.  Breast milk is specifically designed to optimise the
baby's growth and development.
Two important concepts of Breast feeding
 Early initiation of breast feeding
 Exclusive Breastfeeding for six months

3.  NFHS-3 and DLHS-3 data says only 23.5% of
babies are initiated with breast feeding within
one hour.
 According to NFHS-4 data, even in a state like
Puducherry with excellent healthcare
facilities only 53.5% are initiated with
breastfeeding in the first hour.
 NFHS-4 Data shows there is a fall in
Tamilnadu, initiation of breast feeding in the
first hour compared to NFHS-3

4.  BPNI report on 9th February 2017 says
 Nearly 26 millions births occur every year.
 20 million are in hospitals
 Whereas 14 million babies first meal is a
formula.
 And only 6 million babies are exclusively
breast fed for six months

5. Baby is vigorous during the first hour of life,
mother is also eager to feed the baby, later
she becomes tired, by the hectic process of
labour.
Colostrum the first milk secreted by the
mother is liquid gold which is yellowish in
colour, and contains vital nutrients and
antibodies required by the child to grow and
develop resistance to disease.

6.  Studies revealed that initiation of breast
feeding leads to early bonding between the
mother and baby.

7.  NFHS-3 and DLHS-3 data shows that only
46.5% of the mothers breastfeed their baby
exclusively for six months
 What are the benefits of exclusively
breastfeeding the baby?
 Jones and et al study published in the Lancet
Journal reveals that 15% of underfive deaths
can be prevented

8.  The National Health and Medical Research Council says that the
health benefits for infants and mothers include
 Reduced incidence and duration of diarrheal diseases,
 Protection against respiratory infections,
 Reduced prevalence of Asthma,
 Reduced occurrence of otitis media and recurrent ottits media,
 Possible protection against neonatal enterocolitis, bacteremia,
meningitis botulism and UTI.
 Baby gains a healthy weight and do not become obese which
prevents development of NCD’s in the future.
 Dundee Infant feeding study is a longitudinal study which
provides convincing evidence that the health benefits of
breastfeeding don’t just last during infancy, but are sustained
throughout childhood, adolescence and probably into adulthood
as well.

9.  Mothers of lack of knowledge and awareness
about the benefits of breastfeeding
 Lack of motivation to mothers.
 Influence of the family members to
supplement
 Lack of support from the partner and family.
 Working women who has to go for work
before six months.

10.  Doctors have a role in ensuring that all pregnant
women and their partner receive sufficient
information to enable them to make an informed
decision on the way to feed their infants.
 Any mother experiencing difficulties in
breastfeeding should be offered counseling
 All the healthcare professionals should be
responsive to the concerns and need of those
mothers,
 Grass root workers like ANMs and Health workers
who are the first contact person should be
equipped with a thorough knowledge of
breastfeeding, so has to motivate, promote and
support exclusive breastfeeding of mothers till
six months

11.  Women should be educated that expressed
breast milk can be stored at room
temperature for six hours
 At 2-8 degree Celsius for 24 hours
 And deep freezed for six months

13.  Since WHO has insisted on Exclusive
Breastfeeding many human milk banks are
started throughout the world and in India
 This bank collects the breast milk from donor
mothers, and pasturizes it at 62.5degree celcius
for 30 minutes, cooled and stored called as
pasturized donor human milk.(PDHM)
 This is milk is microbiologically tested and given
for babies who are in need of it.
 Research shows that there is only a minimal drop
in nutrition

14.  Brazil stand an example for doing excellent
service.
 Community collection of breastmilk occurs
where the community workers like Postman,
collect from the mothers home, the excessive
milk collected and stored, and hand it over to
the milk bank
 JIPMER also has Human Milk Bank, called the
Amutham Thaipal Maiyam, which is
functioning very effectively.
 Telegana has also started a human milk bank
last week

19. Breast feeding is a vital part and non negotiable
component to end malnutrition.
Breast feeding is not a women sole responsibility,
protection, promotion and supporting breastfeeding is a
collective societal responsibility shared by us all.
Sustainable Development Goals:

20.  Breast feeding the key contributor to survival health and well
being of infants and mothers, put simply and it provides the
baby with best possible start in life.

21.  The health of the babies are affected by the ways they
are fed.
 Breast milk is a natural and renewable food, which is
produced without pollution, packaging or waste.
 Safeguarding breastfeeding links human life with the
wellbeing of our planet in a powerful way.

22.  When breastfeeding has to be combined with paid
work, especially under precarious circumstances, the
challenges may be overwhelming.
 Policies and Legislation that protect the women’s
right to breastfeed and work are thus essential.

23.  LANCET 2016- Improved breastfeeding have
a potential to save the lives of 8,23,000
children and 20,000 women a year and
significantly contributes to long term health
 Let us join together and sustain breastfeeding
and achieve the Sustainable development
goals by 2030.