Breastfeeding helps improve immunity of babies, say doctors

K M Dayashankar

Working mothers can pump and store breast milk in a sterile container for about 4 to 6 hours at room temperature

Breastfeeding should continue for two years age of a child

Breast milk is having all nutrients, vitamins, proteins and properties of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic

KARIMNAGAR: Doctors of the Women doctors wing (WDW) associated with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Karimnagar chapter have informed the mothers that breastfeeding will increase the immunity of the babies and protect them from various ailments.

As part of the ongoing World Breastfeeding week celebrations from August 1 to 7, the IMA WDW doctors have organised a programme at the Sanjeevanee Nursing home in Karimnagar town on Monday and empowered the mothers about the importance of breastfeeding for the infants. WDW district chairperson Dr M Vijayalakshmi, paediatrician Dr Ramya, Vice chairperson Dr Sesha Shailaja, general secretary Dr Adepu Shailaja, Joint secretary Dr Preethi, treasurer Dr Sandhya, state leader Dr Akula Shailaja, Dr Deepthi, Dr Manasa and others participated in the programme.

Speaking on this occasion, the doctors said that the infants, who are not exclusively fed on mother’s milk for the first six months, have lower immunity and were prone to diarrhoea, pneumonia and other infectious diseases. They said that breastfeeding should continue till the children complete two years of age for making them stronger and healthy with good immunity.

Explaining the techniques of feeding the infants by holding them gently, the doctors educate the mothers about the importance of skin to skin contact with the infant while breastfeeding. They also gave tips to the lactating mothers about the nutritional food they should take while doing breastfeeding. They also empowered the mothers about what food to be eaten to increase milk production.

Clarifying various doubts of the lactating mothers, they said that the working mothers can pump and store breast milk, which can be stored in a sterile container for about four to six hours outside room temperature without any preservatives. They said that “any mother who is feeding her own baby can also donate milk. All she needs is a generous heart. The more she gives the better milk production to feed her own baby”. The doctors also distributed nutritional supplement food such as fruits for the lactating mothers.

hindudayashankar