Location:
Call: 040 4488 5333
[email protected]

10 August, 2021

Importance of Breastfeeding

Breast milk is the best and most complete source of nutrition for all babies till 6 months of age. It has the perfect combination of nutrients such as whey proteins, carbohydrates and fats in an easily digestible form. Breast milk’s composition can vary according to the baby’s requirement particularly in the first few days of life. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight infections and build up immunity. Exclusively breastfed babies have less chances of getting ear infections, pneumonias, diarrhoea and in general have much better immunity than babies on formula feeds. Breast fed babies also have lower risk of allergies like asthma, eczema and atopic dermatitis. Breastfed babies tend to have fewer hospital visits and less problems of colic and indigestion.

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the optimal amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight or obese. Breastfeeding also plays an important role in the prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers as well, but more research is needed.

Breastfeeding has various benefits for the mother. It helps to loose pregnancy weight faster, helps in reducing post-partum blood losses, and lowers the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

Despite the fact that breast feeding is natural and instinctive, many mothers face problems in breastfeeding as their traditional source of learning was lost with extended families being replaced by nuclear families. There is a general perception among many mothers that their milk is insufficient for the baby. Crying of the baby for any reason is taken as a sign of hunger and mothers tend to start formula feeds for falsely perceived milk inadequacy. Breastfeeding definitely requires patience and efforts in the first few days which is the time most mothers give up. As per the government figures, only 55% mothers tend to exclusively breast feed their infants for the first 6 months of life.

As formula fed babies tend to gain weight more rapidly, breastfeeding mothers start comparing their baby’s weight to them. Some mothers then feel pressurized to start their baby also on formula feeds presuming their baby is not getting enough nutrition.

The solutions to promote and protect breast feeding require team approach – an early start is always good. Pregnant ladies should be repeatedly counselled and made aware regarding breastfeeding. They should be examined for flat or inverted nipples during pregnancy as they may cause difficulty in breastfeeding. If these issues are addressed before the baby’s delivery mothers will be more confident and positive about breastfeeding. The nurses and doctors should educate the mother and address their concerns periodically. Formula feeds or any sort of additional feeds like water, honey, ghutti should be strongly discouraged. Pacifiers and artificial teats must not be introduced especially in the first few days after birth. Mothers should receive a healthy balanced diet and unnecessary dietary restrictions based on local customs should be stopped. The family should provide constant support and encouragement to the breastfeeding mother. It should be ensured that all mothers get 6 months of paid maternity leave. With all these measures, one can ensure higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months.

We at KIMS cuddles, a baby friendly hospital strongly believe in the cause of breastfeeding for every newborn. We practice early skin to skin contact and early initiation of breastfeeding for every newborn. With a dedicated team of lactation trained nurses and support staff, we achieve 80-90% exclusive breastfeeding at the end of 4-6 months from birth among our mothers. 

SIMILAR ARTICLES

blog featured image

29 September, 2026

What Causes Constipation in Children and How Can It Be Prevented?

Constipation is one of the most common reasons parents bring children to a paediatrician, and one of the conditions most frequently dismissed as either not serious or straightforwardly solved by eating more fruit. Neither response reflects how complex and persistent constipation in children can be, or how significantly it affects a child's daily life when it is not properly managed.What Constipation Actually Means?Constipation is more than just passing stool less often. It is a diagnosis made when a child has difficult, painful or incomplete bowel movements, and can happen even if the child passes a stool every day, if those stools are hard, huge, or involve significant straining or discomfort. For children, a practical clinical definition is fewer than three spontaneous bowel movements per week or stools that are hard and unpleasant regardless of frequency.Many parents assume their child will grow out of it. Functional constipation, the most common type, is self-perpetuating if not managed. When passing a stool hurts, the child withholds the next stool. Withheld stool hardens further, making the next passage even more painful. The cycle continues and deepens, eventually causing faecal impaction, where a large hard mass accumulates in the rectum and becomes impossible to pass without medical assistance.Common Causes of Constipation in ChildrenFor families across
Read More
blog featured image

28 September, 2026

What Causes Anaemia in Children and How Is It Treated?

Anaemia is one of the most common nutritional conditions affecting children in India, and one of the most consistently undertreated. It is estimated that over 67% of children under five in India are anaemic to some degree, according to National Family Health Survey data. Yet many families do not realise their child is affected until it has been present long enough to impact growth, cognition, and the ability to concentrate at school.What Anaemia Actually IsAnaemia occurs when the blood does not carry enough oxygen to meet the body's needs. In children, this usually happens because red blood cells are too few, too small, or contain insufficient haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen. The most common cause worldwide, including in children across Electronic City, Bengaluru and South Bengaluru, is iron deficiency. But anaemia has multiple causes, and the treatment depends entirely on identifying the correct one.Common Causes of Anaemia in ChildrenIron deficiency is responsible for the majority of cases. Iron is essential for haemoglobin production, and children who do not get enough iron through diet, who have increased requirements due to rapid growth, or who have conditions causing chronic blood loss can develop iron deficiency that progresses to anaemia. Toddlers transitioning from breast or formula milk who are not
Read More
blog featured image

23 September, 2026

IVF Success Factors Explained

One of the first questions almost every couple asks when considering IVF is a simple one: what are our chances? The honest answer is that there is no single figure that applies to everyone. IVF success is shaped by a combination of biological, clinical, and lifestyle variables that interact differently for each person. Understanding what those variables are, and which of them can be influenced, helps couples approach treatment with realistic expectations and a clearer sense of what they can do to optimise their outcomes.Age: the most significant factorThe number one factor in IVF success is the age of the mother or egg donor. The younger the egg, the better its quality and the higher the probability of normal genetics.Women under 35 usually have success rates over 30% per cycle. Women over 40 may see rates below 10%. After three cycles, the cumulative success rate can reach 50 to 60% or more, depending on the population and other factors.The reason age matters so profoundly is egg quality. As women grow older, more eggs are affected by chromosomal abnormalities that lessen the possibility of fertilisation, hinder embryo development, raise the risk of miscarriage and decrease the odds of a successful pregnancy. This is not something IVF can fully overcome. It is why women using eggs
Read More
Loading booking..