- Multiple benefits of breastfeeding to the
baby, mother, family, nation, economy and
ecology.
- Harms of bottle - feeding.
- Infant Mortality and morbidity statistics
in India.
- Causes of decline in breastfeeding including
nuclear families, working mothers, images
of formula feeding and bottle-feeding in the
media.
- Wrong practices in maternity facilities
and the concept of a baby friendly hospital.
Breastfeeding – a fundamental right of
women and infants.
- Correct practices of infant feeding including
bedding – in, early initiation, colostrum
feeding, avoiding pre – lacteal feeds,
and demand feeding.
- The concept and advantages of excusive breastfeeding
for six months.
- Timely introduction of complementary foods
and types of complementary foods.
- Breastfeeding by mothers in special situations
such as ill mothers, HIV positive mothers
and working mothers. It needs to be stressed
here that with adequate personal motivation,
and support from family and employers, a working
mother can successfully give her own breastmilk
to her infant.
- Neonatal care, vaccination schedule and
normal milestones.
- If questioned, one could provide answers
about anatomy and physiology of lactation,
management of situations of low milk output,
management of problems like engorged breasts,
nipple fissure, breast abscess etc, and (mis)use
of breast pumps and nipple shields.
As the audience may be exposed to such information
for the first time, some of them may be a little
queasy or uncomfortable with it. The presenter
must impart information with a straight face
and balance the presentation between the scientific
and the social.
Use of flip charts / drawings / posters that
are large enough to be easily viewed by backbenchers
should be utilized to make a greater impact
and to make the proceedings interesting. Reading
matter if distributed, should be in local dialect,
large font, easily understandable, and must
convey only key messages regarding infant feeding.
One must avoid detailed information that may
not be read at all.
It would be a good idea to stage plays for
adolescents that convey messages in an interesting
and light hearted manner. This method could
also be used for adolescents who are not schooling
formally. Using peer groups (adolescents) to
stage plays or deliver talks (after training)
would be a good idea as the audience would instantly
identify with their peers. This would also reduce
the burden on program planners for arranging
resource persons, and would facilitate bringing
many colleges and schools under the program.
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