a A 32-year-old working mom solely breastfed her new child for the primary three months. Nonetheless, after returning to work, she discovered it tough to proceed breastfeeding frequently as a result of lengthy working hours and commuting. With correct steerage from a lactation specialist, she was capable of specific and retailer breast milk.
Disclaimer: This text is predicated on info from the general public area and/or from consultants we spoke to. Make sure to seek the advice of your physician earlier than beginning your day by day life.
Her story mirrors that of a mom with a two-and-a-half-month-old child lady. breastfeeding How did (EBF) obtain help to beat this stage? At first, her milk provide was “very low” and the method was “very painful”, she recalled, leaving her with “broken nipples that oozed blood”. “For the sake of my associates who helped me via this section and my mom who gave me options and emotional help, I’d have give up after the third day,” she added.
Motherhood is extraordinarily valuable and rewarding, however breastfeeding comes with many calls for on ladies. From low milk provide and painful biting to cracked nipples and the emotional stress to maintain going, breastfeeding will be one of the crucial tough points of early motherhood. Whereas India is making progress in selling breastfeeding, EBF charges amongst infants underneath six months of age are declining, elevating necessary questions in regards to the challenges moms face and the help they want.
In response to knowledge from the Nationwide Household Well being Survey (NFHS)-6, institutional births in India elevated from 88.6 per cent in NFHS-5 to 90.6 per cent, however unique breastfeeding of infants underneath six months of age decreased from 63.7 per cent to 55.8 per cent, highlighting the necessity for stronger help techniques.
To higher perceive this actuality, we spoke to moms and consultants who shared their private experiences navigating the ups and downs of breastfeeding.
What’s Unique Breastfeeding (EBF)?
Breast milk supplies ideally suited diet for infants, supporting immunity, progress, and growth. As advisable by WHO and UNICEF, you will need to first breastfeed inside the first hour of delivery, solely breastfeed for the primary six months, and proceed breastfeeding with complementary meals as much as two years or extra.
Dr Pankhuri Gautam, senior advisor, obstetrics and gynecology, Cocoon Hospital, Jaipur, stated colostrum, also referred to as colostrum, is especially necessary as it’s wealthy in protecting elements that help early immunity.
Postnatal care by the household is essential (Picture: Freepik)
Dr Sanju Siddaradi, Marketing consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Maternity Hospital, Khargarh, Navi Mumbai, stated unique breastfeeding supplies antibodies and immune elements that assist infants combat infections, particularly diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and different circumstances that regularly have an effect on newborns. “breast milk It incorporates antibodies, enzymes, and helpful microorganisms that help the event of a wholesome intestine microbiome and assist strengthen the toddler’s immune system,” stated Dr. Siddaradi.
“It additionally helps mom and child bond and helps long-term breastfeeding success,” Dr. Pankhuri stated.
If water, animal milk, toddler method (meals manufactured to interchange or complement breast milk), or semisolid meals are launched too early, infants might miss out on these protecting results, Dr. Siddaradi famous.
“There might also be an elevated threat of digestive issues and infections. In city areas, mother and father are sometimes uncovered to a variety of dietary recommendation from social media, relations and on-line boards, which will be complicated,” Dr Siddaradi stated. “Many households might interpret regular toddler behaviors equivalent to frequent feedings, crying, and brief sleep cycles as indicators of inadequate milk and introduce dietary supplements earlier than obligatory. Nonetheless, these behaviors are sometimes a part of regular toddler growth and don’t routinely point out starvation or dietary deficiencies,” the physician added.
Why is EBF reducing?
Chandrey Mukherjee, 30, turned a mom via C-section in November 2025, 36 days earlier than her due date. “Sure, I solely breastfed my daughter for the primary month of her life. She was born prematurely, so guaranteeing she obtained correct diet and sufficient weight acquire was a significant concern for us. I used to be dedicated to breastfeeding, however the mixture of my physique recovering from the C-section and the calls for of caring for a new child made this journey extraordinarily tough,” she recalled.
After the primary month, Mukherjee progressively launched method feeding alongside breastfeeding. “The transition wasn’t simple, as my daughter initially rejected a number of method manufacturers. We needed to strive totally different choices till we discovered the one which labored for her. Finally, she tailored effectively and blended feeding turned a sensible answer for our household,” she stated.
Whereas Mukherjee admitted that she initially felt stress to solely breastfeed for so long as attainable, she stated she finally realized that being a mom was not about assembly some ideally suited commonplace, it was about being a mom. It is very important make selections which might be helpful for each child and mom. “Introducing method wasn’t a compromise. It was a call to assist my daughter develop and assist me get better higher and be extra assured as a dad or mum,” she stated. Now about 7 months outdated, our daughter is wholesome, lively, and rising effectively.
Whether or not a girl continues to solely breastfeed for weeks, months, and even years, the journey typically includes persistence, sacrifice, and numerous unseen challenges.
Alka Yadav, 33, a world relations supervisor at a significant financial institution, turned a mom in August 2025 after a “lengthy IVF journey”. “We launched method feeding together with breastfeeding from the third month of life,” Yadav stated, blaming misinformation on social media, considerations about milk provide and a demanding way of life for the decline in EBF, which she stated made it tough to maintain. “I additionally breastfed at first, however then switched utterly to method,” she added.
Monisa Nadeem, a 35-year-old mom, believes that if a girl has to return to work after six months of maternity depart, it won’t be simple to take care of her milk provide as not everybody has a pumping room or can afford a breast pump. “When the kids should not current, they’re given method, but when the kid isn’t breastfeeding, the milk provide naturally decreases over time,” she says.
Mukherjee feels this decline has extra to do with the realities of contemporary motherhood than a lack of understanding about the advantages of breastfeeding. “Many ladies in city areas work as professionals and infrequently dwell in nuclear households with restricted help techniques. Recovering from childbirth, coping with sleep deprivation, juggling family duties and getting ready to return to work will be difficult,” she stated, including that this will generally create “unrealistic expectations that moms ought to be capable of do all of it with out recognizing the bodily and psychological pressure.”
Docs agree that the decline in EBF, particularly in city areas, is alarming as a result of breastfeeding isn’t solely a dietary apply, but additionally an necessary basis for toddler immunity, progress, and bonding.
Doable causes embody elevated workload, stress, sleep schedules, and stress on moms to return to work quickly after maternity depart, which might make it tough to proceed EBF for six months, however Manipal Hospital, New Delhi, Warka Neonatology Marketing consultant Dr. Videsh Sonbattina stated many preterm infants require long-term NICU care, which might result in diminished mother-infant interplay and bonding within the first few days and weeks of life, which might have an effect on breastfeeding. Follow.
Dr. Bimalpreet Mohan, director and chief radiologist at Capital Well being Clinic and a ladies’s well being professional, additionally stated the decline was as a result of “main modifications in maternal well being developments.” “Extra ladies are conceiving later in life, managing high-risk pregnancies, or recovering from caesarean part, all of which might affect their early breastfeeding expertise. Fashionable medication has enormously improved being pregnant outcomes via superior screening and imaging, however postnatal care must be given the identical consideration,” added Dr. Mohan.
Dr. Pankhuri says one other large issue is the widespread notion that method is extra handy or that breast milk is “inadequate,” which frequently results in early supplementation. “From an obstetrics and gynecology perspective, EBF requires stronger institutional and neighborhood help. Moms ought to obtain counseling throughout being pregnant, instant skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding help after delivery, and continued follow-up after discharge from hospital. We should cease treating breastfeeding as the only duty of moms. Breastfeeding requires help from the household, office, and well being care system,” Dr. Pankhuri asserted.
factor of guilt
Consultants say moms want reassurance as a lot as medical recommendation.
Muskan Rastogi, lactation advisor and physiotherapist at Maternity Hospital, Larger Noida, careworn that moms want to grasp that for the primary six months of life, breast milk alone is enough for many wholesome infants, even in sizzling climates, they usually normally don’t require extra water.
“On the similar time, moms shouldn’t really feel responsible if breastfeeding turns into tough. In search of well timed steerage from a gynecologist or lactation advisor may help handle considerations associated to swallowing difficulties, low milk provide, ache throughout breastfeeding, breastfeeding-work stability, and so forth., and in addition assist in the even handed use of breastfeeding instruments,” she added.
“Households ought to keep away from statements that trigger guilt or panic. As an alternative, they need to assist the mom relaxation, eat effectively, keep hydrated, and get better bodily and mentally. Docs, nurses, lactation consultants, and the complete household play an necessary position in making breastfeeding much less demanding and extra sustainable,” Dr. Pankhuri careworn.
Trying again, these mothers have all discovered that their journeys are totally different they usually must be extra empathetic and fewer judgmental in the case of their meals selections. “Crucial factor is that each mom and child are wholesome, supported and doing effectively,” Mukherjee stated.
Dr. Shobha Gupta, medical director, gynecologist and IVF specialist at Mom’s Wrap IVF Heart in Pitampura, New Delhi, additionally stated creating an enabling surroundings via stronger lactation help, office insurance policies and neighborhood consciousness may help. “Breastfeeding isn’t the only duty of the mom. Breastfeeding requires collective help from households, employers, well being care suppliers, and society as an entire,” Dr. Gupta stated.
Dr. Pankhuri reiterated that whereas breastfeeding is extraordinarily helpful, it ought to by no means be used to disgrace or evaluate moms. “Some moms might require medical steerage, blended feeding, or another feeding plan as a result of well being points. The well being of the mom and child ought to all the time come first. Breastfeeding isn’t about stress, perfection, or comparability. It’s about care, connection, and help. When a mom is guided with sufficient compassion, she turns into extra assured, and that confidence turns into the premise for a more healthy begin for her baby,” the physician stated.
Sensible future developments
Rastogi emphasised creating breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, elevating consciousness, holding counseling periods and strengthening help techniques at house to help moms.
This is what your physician may recommend (Picture: Getty Photos/Thinkstock)
Dr. Shailaja Mane, MBBS physician (pediatrics), DPU Tremendous Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, stated breastfeeding training ought to begin throughout being pregnant. Prenatal counseling And we have to actively contain fathers, grandparents and carers. “Well being care professionals ought to help moms with breastfeeding methods, positioning, sucking, and so forth., particularly after caesarean part. The significance of colostrum, also known as ‘liquid gold’, needs to be emphasised because it supplies important immunity and safety to the new child,” Dr Mane stated.
In response to Dr. Mayne, hospitals should strictly adhere to the Toddler Milk Substitutes (IMS) Act and keep away from routine promoting of child bottles, toddler method, or associated merchandise except medically indicated. “Sadly, many households obtain pointless suggestions for bottles and method, which might hinder profitable breastfeeding practices,” she fumed.
Dr. Mane stated she believes that with the collaboration of households, well being professionals, employers, coverage makers and the media, India can considerably enhance breastfeeding outcomes.
