Breast Is Best

It is described as the most natural thing in the world, but breastfeeding can be a challenge. Chencho Sherin Thomas answers some FAQs.

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If you’re a new mother, you’re probably already suffering from information overload. Everyone from your masseuse to your FB friend will have advice for you. Despite all the factoids floating around though, there’s one aspect of motherhood that’s still not well understood: breastfeeding. Studies suggest that barely 41 percent of Indian mothers initiate early breastfeeding, as opposed to a whopping 83 per cent in countries like the US.

Did you know that human milk has the power to ward off diseases that no formula in the world can? Adhunika Prakash, a lactation educator and founder of the Breastfeeding Support for Indian Moms (BSIM), a Facebook group created to encourage and enable nursing mothers, has found that many new mothers perceive their milk supply to be too low. This, she says, is caused by the introduction of artificial baby milk (ABM) when there is no medical need for it. That’s where BSIM comes in. “If mothers wish to wean off ABM and exclusively breastfeed, we give them guidance on how to go about it.”