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File photo of nursing students taking part in World Breastfeeding Week awareness rally in Coimbatore
| Photo Credit: Siva Saravanan S
How to offer a healthy start to a baby’s life? The answer lies in exclusive breastfeeding. From antibodies to exclusive nutrients, the benefits of breastfeeding are immense. The World Health Organisation and UNICEF recommend initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. The theme this year for World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated annually from August 1 to 7, is prioritise breastfeeding, create sustainable support systems.
“Breastfeeding may be natural, but it is also a skill that mothers need to learn,” says lactation consultant and child nutrition specialist R Baby Shree of Rao Hospital, adding that there is need to move beyond discussing the benefits of breast milk and focus on the support new mothers need. “Breastfeeding is not something a mother automatically knows after delivering a baby. She needs guidance and support.”
An engaging and informative session on breastfeeding, newborn nutrition and infant feeding practices, took the message across to expectant mothers, new mothers, and their families. The programme titled breastfeeding and beyond put together by Rao Hospital that specialises in women and child care, located in RS Puram, also highlighted common concerns surrounding breastfeeding, newborn feeding patterns, maternal nutrition, and the introduction of complementary foods.
Dr Asha Rao at the session on breasfeeding and beyond
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement