Beliefs and Facts about breast feeding in India

Breast feeding is a common practice in India. Breast feeding does not escape the misplaced deeply held belief system. The infants are breast fed from 6 months to 3 years of age. After labor, the recuperation time for mother lasts about 40 days. The concept of Hot Foods and Cold Foods continues through recuperation and nursing.

What are pregnancy 'Hot and Cold Foods'?

Belief: Nuts and Gum based sweets help recoup energy from labor

These sweets are made by frying whole grain flours. Lots of sugar and Ghee are used. In North India, Panjiri (Katlu), and Gond ke Laddu are popular. These are also supposed to help with lactation.

Fact

Sugar and nuts do give the mother a 'rush' of energy. The better approach would be to return to a balanced diet as soon as possible.

Belief: Dried fish, Egg plant, Dal, and green increase breast milk production

Fact

These items do not help with increasing production of breast milk.

Fenugreek seeds do increase the production of breast milk.

Belief: Mothers need large breasts and nipples to breast feed infants

In the olden days, parents would choose brides for their son, who had large hips and large breasts. It was believed that women needed large hips to carry through successful pregnancy to bear the weight, and large breasts could produce enough milk to feed the baby

Fact

Breast or nipple size has nothing to do with breastfeeding

The breast size does not dictate the capacity needed to feed an infant. The shape or size does not aid or hinder the infant's capability to suckle milk.

Belief: Infant formula is better than breast milk

During Raj, British introduced infant formula to India. Population at large believed:

1. Infant formula must be better, because white man gave it to their own

2. Infant formula was better because it was a science based formula.

3. Woman could maintain the firm breasts by not breast feeding.

Fact

Breast milk is the best infant food

Infant formula is only second best to the breast milk. Breast milk contains antibodies that can not be duplicated.

Belief: Malnourished women produce poor quality breast milk

Fact

Mother's nutrition does not affect breast milk

In general, the breast milk will draw nutrition from other parts of body, if it was not in the diet. For example, Calcium may be obtained from the bones if the mother's diet lacked calcium.

The mother's nutrition will effect the health of the mother before it will effect the quality of the breast milk.

Belief: Eating meats by nursing mother reduces breast milk production

False

Belief: Eating yogurt by nursing mother causes infant diarrhea, indigestion, and gas.

False

Belief: Eating Mandi (Rice Starch water) by nursing mother increases breast milk production

False

Belief: Eating Papaya by nursing mother increases breast milk production

False

Belief: Eating Urad (Black Matpe) by nursing mother increases breast milk production

False

Children Health | India Baby Foods Guide | Baby Foods Cooking and Recipes

Google Group | Disclaimer | What do you think!