The Power of Colostrum: The Miracle Milk Your New-born Needs
Your baby has finally arrived in this world and tending to a new-born’s hunger pangs couldn’t be easier as nature has already provided the best nutrition in the form of breast milk, right? But is it really that simple to breastfeed your baby? Are there any breastfeeding essentials you need to know before you embark on your breastfeeding journey? What can help make this transition into motherhood easier for you and your new-born?
Our health expert Dr. Sadiah Ahsan Pal provides tips on how to ensure you and your newborn get off to a fulfilling breastfeeding experience. These tips can help new mothers and babies not just survive but thrive in the first few months and initial years of a child’s life. Watch Episode 3 of KASHF Sehat Ka Paigham to address all your breast-feeding-related questions.
Here are some “Breastfeeding Tips” that might help you get started.
- A new-born can be breastfed within 30 minutes to under an hour of birth.
A healthy baby can be put to her mother’s breast soon after delivery. The yellowish-tinged breast milk produced by the mother in the first few days after birth is called Colostrum. It contains antibodies, is rich in proteins and is greatly beneficial for the baby.
Colostrum is the miracle milk that provides all the nutritional requirements your baby needs to help her survive the first few days after birth.
A new mother might require help to kick-start the breastfeeding journey. Her husband, a good friend or relative, or any one the mother feels comfortable with can help her in this process.
It is advised to exclusively breastfeed a new-born for the first 6 months of her life.
- What is ‘Respectful Maternity Care’ and can it help ease the breastfeeding process?
Respectful maternity care means treating the expectant and new mother with due respect. Giving priority to the mother’s feelings; not dismissing her emotions reduces her anxiety, or when she is undergoing discomfort, painting or asking for pain relief during labor, not shaming the mother about the baby’s weight or size, are all critical behaviours that we must inculcate as a society to allow the mother to feel comfortable and relaxed during and after childbirth.
A relaxed mother ensures a successful breastfeeding experience and a healthier baby.
- A new-born should not be given a bath within 24 hours of birth
Pneumonia is a killer of new-born babies.
If the bath water is too cold or too hot, it can be dangerous for the baby. The risk of infection also rises if a baby is exposed to sudden changes in temperature within the first few hours of birth. Newborn babies do not have an internal thermostat. Dry clean the baby and wrap her in a soft towel to retain the body heat. This is the safest way to protect the baby against extreme hot or cold temperatures.
- Maternal nutrition is paramount for a breastfeeding mother
A breastfeeding mother must take balanced nutrition. Try to incorporate meat and fish 2 or 3 times a week in the mother’s diet. If meat is expensive; lentils (daal) and a mix of rice and lentils( khitchri), assorted lentils, grains and meat dish (haleem), with even a minimal quantity of meat is also a good substitute.
Breastfeeding mothers should take a diet rich in fresh, green vegetables, salad, whole fruits along with its fiber (not fruit juice which is rich in sugar).
- Salt and sugar are best avoided for young children when solids are introduced.
Children can be started on a diet that has variety; fresh foods and vegetables are essential. Foods to avoid would be an excess of spices, salt, sugar and fried foods. This practice will help develop healthy eating habits and flavour preferences in young children.
The child who is introduced to solids (normally after 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding), can continue to drink milk; breast milk and/or iron-vitamin D fortified milk along with solids to protect against anemia and other vitamin deficiencies.
Did you know: Anemia and iron deficiency affect 47% of Pakistani women, leading to maternal health risks and complications during childbirth.
If you found this information useful, then do share the article with your friends and/or family or anyone you feel will benefit from the knowledge.
For more information on how to take care of your and your baby’s health during pregnancy and after giving birth, watch the full podcast on KASHF Foundation’s YouTube channel.
Catch Episode 3 of Sehat Ka Paigham now on KASHF Foundation’s YouTube channel, and stay connected with us on all our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok) for updates on upcoming episodes!
About Sehat Ka Paigham
KASHF Foundation’s *Sehat Ka Paigham* podcast is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at empowering women and families with essential knowledge about maternal and child health. Each episode brings together leading experts to address critical topics like breastfeeding, malnutrition, pregnancy complications, and growth stunting in children. Designed to educate and debunk myths, these eight episodic podcasts focus on providing actionable advice rooted in research conducted in rural Pakistan. With renowned host Sania Saeed at the helm, *Sehat Ka Paigham* is bridging the gap between expert insights and community awareness, ensuring healthier futures for mothers and children across the country.
