New Delhi: In Indian households, the arrival of a newborn is met with joyous rituals, a grandmother’s lullaby, proud laughter of the newly crowned father, and the soft shuffle of visitors bringing sweets and blessings. “You’ve had a baby!” is exclaimed with awe, as the mother is gently ushered into her new role. But amid the celebrations and adoration over the baby, another quiet yet essential act unfolds — breastfeeding. As the infant thrives on the mother’s milk, quietly, her body gives and gives, sometimes at her own expense. This World Breastfeeding Week, while we celebrate the power of breastmilk, it’s time to ask: Are we caring for the mother as she devotes herself to caring for her baby?

The biology of breastfeeding demands greater maternal nutritional requirements during lactation than during pregnancy. During the first 4 to 6 months of the postpartum period, the baby doubles its birth weight, drawing all its nutrient intake from the mother’s breastmilk. For the mother, these nutrients come either from a mother’s diet or from her body reserves. “Breastmilk is minimally affected by diet”, says Dr Anura Kurpad, Senior Advisor for the Nutrition Portfolio of Tata Trusts. Dr. Kurpad added, “The mother’s body always prioritises the baby’s nourishment, and consequently, most nutrients, such as iron, zinc, folate, calcium, and copper, continue to be excreted in breast milk, at the expense of maternal stores. The situation worsens if the mother already suffers from poor BMI or malnutrition”. Thus, these stores need to be conserved and replenished.

Women who........

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