Q8. I will need to join work after my baby is four months old? How will I breastfeed then?

A. You must try & extend your leave till the baby is atleast six months old. Even a working mother can continue to breastfeed. She should feed the baby before going to work & soon after coming back. She should feed more at night (reverse feeding) in order that baby needs less feeding during the daytime. She should feed normally on holidays. If there is a facility for ladies room & refrigerator at work place then mother should express the milk & store it in clean steel containers kept in refrigerator. Mother's milk can be stored at room temperature for 4-6 hours & in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Mother can bring this stored milk back home & use it for the baby next day when she is out for work. After removing it from the refrigerator it should not be heated directly because it will loose it's anti-infective properties. It can be brought to room temperature or kept in another vessel containing warm water.

Q9. My baby is 3 months old. I have to attend a marriage ceremony tomorrow. What dress is best suited for feeding on such occasions?

A. I may feel little embarrassed to feed in front of relatives. My friend was suggesting me to carry some top milk with bottle.

Sari is best suited for feeding in public places. You may carry a shawl along with to help you feed with comfort. Some mothers face the wall with back to the crowd while feeding. Mother breastfeeding her baby is a common site in India & it goes with our tradition & most of the societies worldwide. There is no need to carry milk &\or bottle for such occasions. Do not feel embarrassed, in fact you must feel proud to feed your baby & set an example to others.

Q10. My baby is 2 months old & passes stools very frequently. It also brings out lot of milk after every feed. I am exclusively breastfeeding my baby. Is something wrong with my milk?

A. An exclusively breastfed baby may pass stools frequently. This usually occurs during or soon after feeding. Baby may bring out some amount of milk after feeding (regurgitation). However if the child is passing urine at least 6-7 times in 24 hours & putting on at least 500 grams in 1 month then mother should not bother about frequent stooling or regurgitation. Hence it is wrong for you to think that something is wrong with your milk.

Similarly an exclusively breastfed baby may pass stools as infrequently as once in 7 days, Even this does not need any treatment unless baby's stomach gets bloated.

Q11. When & how should I wean my baby? What food items can I use?

A. Weaning should start by about the end of 6 months. Use home made foods & avoid tinned foods. Home made foods have an advantage of freshness & variety. Home made foods habituate the child to the family diet. Do not use watery items like dal water, rice water, soups & fruit juices. These items are full of water but poor in calories. Feed the baby during routine meal times from the family diet. Children learn to eat by imitation.

Q12. How long should I continue to breastfeed after child starts eating food?

A. Continue to breastfeed at least till second birthday. Feeding in the second year of life carries lot of advantages. Children of this age usually are in a habit of putting all items in their mouth (mouthing). This puts them at risk for different infections. Breastmilk protects children from this increased risk. During illnesses children usually prefer only to breastfeed. Hence continued breastfeeding partially takes care of child's fluid & calorie requirements. Second year feeding also helps in strengthening bonding & overall mental development due to psychological satisfaction.

Q13. I was told by my friend that if I breatfeed beyond one year it will be almost impossible to wean my baby from breast?

A. This is not correct. If child is weaned properly then it learns to eat with the family by 1 year of age. Such children usually demand breastfeeding in the afternoon & nights when they are sleeping next to the mother. This is perfectly alright. Such children usually stop breastfeeding on their own anytime between second & third birthday. The problem arises with those kids who are not weaned properly.

Q14. Do I need to avoid certain food items when I am breastfeeding?

A. There is no need to avoid any food item. However you must eat a balanced diet (cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits & milk). Avoid eating outside food to prevent infections. Eat little more than your usual diet to meet the extra calorie needed for brestfeeding.

Q15. I am due in next 15 days. My mother has already started preparations for special ghee rich foods which are traditionally offered to delivered mothers. I hate these items. Is it absolutely necessary to consume these?

A. It is not necessary to consume these items. In fact these can add heavily to the load of extra fat deposited during pregnancy. However it is still a good custom in average Indian homes where a good balanced diet may be a luxury. In such homes these special items definitely help the mother to get those extra calories & nutrients required for breastfeeding.

Q16. Should I stop breastfeeding when I am sick?

A. In most common illnesses it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding. Mother can also take the drugs prescribed by the doctor. Continued feeding will protect the baby from the same illness. Baby is at risk to catch the illness from any family member & not exclusively from the mother.

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