Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its kid

tamilazhagi · Dec 6, 2011

Scenario 1: An air-conditioned consultation room with cozy interiors in a metropolitan city. Enters a young mother clad in an ultra modern dress. The consultant paediatrician examines her baby and asks her whether she breastfeeds her exclusively. She chuckles and names a popular brand of infant milk substitute. Will someone please explain how these brands become popular when The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes prevents any form of advertising? Her purse outweighs the doctor's advice and she walks out coolly just to make another ceremonial visit some time later.
Scenario 2: A semi-ventilated room with naked furniture and a bellowing fan in a rural area. A woman in dirty linen, embracing poverty as her religion visits her doctor. Here too, the same question is asked put up indeed with a tinge of nativity. The reply is almost the same, except that the latter utters it with a different accent and pronunciation.
The above instances are not rare phenomena, but rather a common observation in our diverse economic and social setup. In either case, the mother is neither guilty nor heavy-hearted to divulge that she couldn't or doesn't breastfeed her baby.
Irrespective of their social background, women are indeed ignorant of the fact that it is the baby's right to be breastfed. Of course, how can we expect our mothers to be aware of their child's right when they are ignorant of their own? (Does someone whisper that the women's reservation bill is in its final phase?)
How callous have we become over the years to deny a child its nature's share. What is more unfortunate, we are not even aware of the fact that we deny our little ones the right they deserve. I fear that the digitalised civilisation is turning nature's gift alien to our kids.
A woman's bosom (usually in a semi-naked pose) is projected by our media gurus to advertise anything from perfume to fabric, from necklace to automobile. What a ruthless, insensible perverted notion is this! Our silence has been taken as approval by these elements. Had any one cared to acknowledge that it is the organ nature has gifted to secrete elixir?
The transformation from home to house, from mother to mummy and from joint family to nuclear family dictated and maintained by the digital revolution has started taking its toll. In fact, I feel we have committed ethical and traditional suicide. Human values and culture are being constantly buried. A vast majority of our population is steeped in ignorance and subsist in ambiguity without being able to identify what is wrong and what is right.
Let us contemplate what best could be done to mitigate the situation. Is it not our duty to cut down the shackles which have tied up the minds of our fellow womenfolk? Are we not duty-bound to instil the importance of breastfeeding to our young mothers?
Is not breast milk the birthright of the baby? Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its kid breast milk.
Our civilisation has learned the art of stealing — three-fourths of cow's milk and leaving one-fourth to the calf. Even with this reduced milk, the calf survives. So how healthy would be the kid, if the mother feeds the baby with her breast?
Goddess Parvathi breastfed baby Thirugnana Sambandhar, a Saivite saint of Tamil Nadu, when he cried out of hunger. The all-powerful almighty didn't find any other means to suppress hunger. She gave him her milk.
Let's remember these axiomatic truths:
Breast milk is a unique and precious gift of nature and has no price.
It helps the infant fight infection and diseases.
It is easily assimilated by the baby due to the perfect combination of protein, lactose and fat.
There are health benefits both for the mother and the child.
Breastfed infants are less prone to childhood obesity than others.
Breastfed infants have a higher IQ than those that are not.
Nursing mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of acquiring premenopausal breast cancer and decreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.
Breast-fed infants are closer to their mothers and feel secure with them more than others. There is a special feeling of bonding between them which cannot be valued by any scale.

SANARUN · Dec 6, 2011

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

Hi tamilazhagi,

Excellent write-up and need of the hour. Infact, i owe a lot to IL because i gained the knowledge of the benefits of exclusive Bfing for the first 6 months through the experienced mothers here in IL. Amidst so many protests in the family, i managed to do that and ofcourse i still continue to feed my toddler who is 2 and a half years old and planning for a self-weaning. I , specially, agree to your point that it does make my toddler feel secure and the bonding cannot be valued at all.

Hope your message reaches new mommies and mothers- to-be.

Thank you azhagi.

luv,

sangi

spuppala · Dec 6, 2011

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

Excellent write up yaar!!
will never make my child deprived of it(in future)

Priesh · Dec 6, 2011

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

Excellant thread.

sushmavja · Dec 6, 2011

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

that was a wonderful post dear..i really dont like people saying that they are not BFing their kids due to various reasons.few say they are unable to produce milk which is ok but what about others who do it just for their convenience

tamilazhagi · Dec 7, 2011

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

thanku everybody for the comments.actually this article of mine was earlier published in THE HINDU.

sdiva20 · Feb 24, 2013

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

Good article and I am constantly surprised when I see people either say they formula feed their baby or feed cow's milk. I am an expectant mom and have read a lot about various aspects of child rearing and pregnancy. Even without reading anything, it is a no brainer that BM is the best nourishment for the baby. In an extreme circumstance, if a mom cannot produce milk , for whatever health reason, it is a totally different issue.

In fact, just had a lactation consultant give me lot of information just couple of days ago in the hospital. She too reiterated the benefits many of which you have already mentioned. Just want to add some more:

-Colostrum or first milk is the best thing a baby can have to boost immunity and prepare for life outside womb.
- Promotes bonding with baby
-Protects from allergies, asthma, childhood obesity, respiratory illness etc
- Ideally babies should be bf up to 2 years- 6 months exclusively as all the nourishment a baby needs is in bm. No formula made in a factory can have anything better.
- Cow's milk does more harm than good for infants. In fact even BF'ing moms that drink cow's milk is not good as it gets into breast milk and through it to baby.
- Benefits to mom also include faster weight loss after birth as bf leads to shinkage of uterus among other benefits mentioned

In America, the awareness of BF'ing is so high now that it is rare to see young mothers feeding their babies anything but BM. I was bf'd so I had no doubts that that is what I wanted to do but I also wanted to educate myself about this as much as possible. Every expectant mother should read up as much as possible on this topic so that she can make informed decisions about her and the her baby's health.

tamilazhagi said: ↑

Scenario 1: An air-conditioned consultation room with cozy interiors in a metropolitan city. Enters a young mother clad in an ultra modern dress. The consultant paediatrician examines her baby and asks her whether she breastfeeds her exclusively. She chuckles and names a popular brand of infant milk substitute. Will someone please explain how these brands become popular when The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes prevents any form of advertising? Her purse outweighs the doctor's advice and she walks out coolly just to make another ceremonial visit some time later.
Scenario 2: A semi-ventilated room with naked furniture and a bellowing fan in a rural area. A woman in dirty linen, embracing poverty as her religion visits her doctor. Here too, the same question is asked put up indeed with a tinge of nativity. The reply is almost the same, except that the latter utters it with a different accent and pronunciation.
The above instances are not rare phenomena, but rather a common observation in our diverse economic and social setup. In either case, the mother is neither guilty nor heavy-hearted to divulge that she couldn't or doesn't breastfeed her baby.
Irrespective of their social background, women are indeed ignorant of the fact that it is the baby's right to be breastfed. Of course, how can we expect our mothers to be aware of their child's right when they are ignorant of their own? (Does someone whisper that the women's reservation bill is in its final phase?)
How callous have we become over the years to deny a child its nature's share. What is more unfortunate, we are not even aware of the fact that we deny our little ones the right they deserve. I fear that the digitalised civilisation is turning nature's gift alien to our kids.
A woman's bosom (usually in a semi-naked pose) is projected by our media gurus to advertise anything from perfume to fabric, from necklace to automobile. What a ruthless, insensible perverted notion is this! Our silence has been taken as approval by these elements. Had any one cared to acknowledge that it is the organ nature has gifted to secrete elixir?
The transformation from home to house, from mother to mummy and from joint family to nuclear family dictated and maintained by the digital revolution has started taking its toll. In fact, I feel we have committed ethical and traditional suicide. Human values and culture are being constantly buried. A vast majority of our population is steeped in ignorance and subsist in ambiguity without being able to identify what is wrong and what is right.
Let us contemplate what best could be done to mitigate the situation. Is it not our duty to cut down the shackles which have tied up the minds of our fellow womenfolk? Are we not duty-bound to instil the importance of breastfeeding to our young mothers?
Is not breast milk the birthright of the baby? Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its kid breast milk.
Our civilisation has learned the art of stealing — three-fourths of cow's milk and leaving one-fourth to the calf. Even with this reduced milk, the calf survives. So how healthy would be the kid, if the mother feeds the baby with her breast?
Goddess Parvathi breastfed baby Thirugnana Sambandhar, a Saivite saint of Tamil Nadu, when he cried out of hunger. The all-powerful almighty didn't find any other means to suppress hunger. She gave him her milk.
Let's remember these axiomatic truths:
Breast milk is a unique and precious gift of nature and has no price.
It helps the infant fight infection and diseases.
It is easily assimilated by the baby due to the perfect combination of protein, lactose and fat.
There are health benefits both for the mother and the child.
Breastfed infants are less prone to childhood obesity than others.
Breastfed infants have a higher IQ than those that are not.
Nursing mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of acquiring premenopausal breast cancer and decreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.
Breast-fed infants are closer to their mothers and feel secure with them more than others. There is a special feeling of bonding between them which cannot be valued by any scale.
Click to expand...

shantana · Mar 1, 2013

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

i strongly opposed on formula feeding especially to newborns. i my self had breastfed my both sons until they are 1 year old. the second son was exclusively breast fed for 6 months and continued with solids without giving formula at all. only started with formula at 11 months old when i wanted to wean him off at 12 months.
the new mummies are reluctant to breast feed due to various reason liken not comfortable, unsure on milk intake by the baby and ignorant on the benefits for both baby and mummy. i had gone thru that for my first son when i was unsure whether my baby was getting enough milk and had to express using a manual pump and bottle feed him. i also felt not comfortable to breastfeed him in public even infront of husband so only bottle feed him my expressed milk.
with the second baby i encouraged myself to direct feeding and avoided pump whenever im with him. i breastfed in car, in park and also in restaurant after learning how to cover myself appropriately.
my MIL's mother who was with us will always comment that breastmilk alone is not enough as its very little and watery. i provided this wrong when my babies was putting on weight and was chubby. i feel proud as i managed to breastfeed my little ones while working full time but those who are stayed at home mum not even breast feed the babies for 1 month.

Dinny · Mar 1, 2013

Re: Let's convince our young mothers that no mammal in the animal kingdom denies its

Healthwise i think BFing is very important for the child as well as the mother.We all know that a baby should be BFed atleast till the age of 1 but not many women know that by doing so they also reduce their own chances of getting Cancer.