The emotional journey

Breastfeeding is best feeding, which is a wonder tonic that strengthens child’s immunity and helps the baby to grow at an advancing rate. The quintessential concern of a newbie mother is to establish the first hour contact with her baby. This early hour breastfeeding is the first vaccine for the child.

Generally, women are not aware of this first hour breastfeeding and tend to throw away the colostrum. Colostrum, first milk, thick, sticky, yellow or orange liquid, has a large number of important nutrients and benefits for a newborn.

Select a good hospital
Choose a hospital which practices direct to breast, delayed cord cutting and bathing and where the pediatrician assesses the baby during breastfeeding.

Nutritional benefits of breastfeeding
While there are a lot of nutritional benefits of breastfeeding, the other aspect which is part and parcel to it is the emotional and psychological change it brings to a mother. It is not only about the physical contact but also the transfer of emotions from a mother to her baby.

Child’s psychological development
Breastfeeding is an indicator of secure attachment status, which is known to have a positive influence on a child’s psychological development into adulthood. It is through breastfeeding that mothers feel confident on producing adequate milk supply for their babies.

Breastfeeding carries substances that promote sleep and calmness in babies. It also helps mothers to relax and bond with her baby. The hormone Leptin, found in breast milk helps in reducing stress in infants through its effects in hippocampus, hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal gland.

Impacts of breastfeeding

• The impact of breastfeeding is not always positive; there are mothers who face a lot of problems while breastfeeding. Pregnancy is hard; and motherhood is even harder given the rapid pace at which things change.
• Breastfeeding reduces the incidence of postpartum depression. The first four to six weeks are important as well as difficult since the baby needs to suck enough to help establish supply. Due to this mother’s face sleep deprivation need a lot of support.
• Health is also an issue that poses an emotional threat to a mother. Few mothers face problems like sore-cracked nipples, inverted nipples, producing in-sufficient milk, engorgement and mastitis etc., which makes breastfeeding painful for them at which point they need to consultant a lactation consultant.
• Many women take it as a loss of freedom to work, eat and relax. Mothers take stress while breastfeeding which indirectly affects their milk production. Therefore, mothers should feel positive and should have a right approach for practicing breastfeeding.

- Dr Priya Srinivas, MSc in Food Science, Childbirth Educator & Lactation Consultant, Member of Medela India