Breastfeeding beneficial for mother, child health: Physicians

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some mothers voided breastfeeding believing that it caused weakness, premature aging and could deteriorate their physical fitness but doctors say breastfeeding for up to two years improves the health of both mother and child.

This comes that according to religious scholars Islamic teachings also ordered mothers to breastfeed their babies for up to two years.

I felt weak during breastfeeding, says a mother

Fahima Suharabi, a resident of Kabul City’s Kart-i-Chahar locality, said that she has  three and five year old sons. Fahima said that she breastfed her children for one or two months and later she gave them formula milk.

She believed that breastfeeding caused weakness, premature aging, and deterioration of the mother's fitness. However, she was uncertain whether powdered milk was as beneficial as breast milk.

“I didn't buy common milk, I bought a carton for 1,500 afs and it would last 8 to 10 days.”

Referring to the high rate of formula milk types, she said: “I believe the quality of milk I gave to my baby was better than the quality of my breast milk.”

Manizha, 23, a resident of the Sherpur area, said she used formula milk to feed her baby because her breast milk was not enough to feed her baby.

She said: “When my baby was first born, I had good milk, my baby was getting enough, but after two months my milk decreased and my baby was always restless because he was hungry, I had to buy formula for him, and after that, my own milk gradually dried up completely, and now that my son is two years old, I'm giving him formula.”

Referring to her own health, Manizha said: “When I was breastfeeding my baby, I was getting weaker day by day, I couldn't handle household chores. When I stopped breastfeeding, my problem also went away, and now, thank God, I am healthy.”

Fawzia Mehrabi, a resident of Kabul’s Qala-i-Zaman Khan locality, said that she has six children and none of her children is breastfed.

Referring to the fact that why she did not breastfeed her children, she said: “My children denied breastfeeding otherwise I tried my best to give them my breasts milk, I raised them all by feeding formula milk.”

Breastfeeding up to 2 years beneficial for mothers and children: Physicians

Dr. Yasmin Yazdani, a gynecologist in Aryana Hospital, said contrary to the believed of some mothers, breastfeeding for up to two years could strengthen the health condition of the mother and baby.

She said: “Breastfeeding begins the first time a mother holds her baby in her arms. According to the accepted standards of the World Health Organization, a mother should breastfeed her baby for up to six months and then for up to two years, along with complementary foods.”

Dr. Yasmin said: “He says that breastfeeding, in addition to playing a major role in the health of the child, is also very beneficial for the mother's health and prevents the mother from contracting breast and uterine cancer, and is very effective in losing weight and burning excess body fat.”

According to her, children who are breastfed have a strong immune system, higher IQ, and strong bones.

She said fatigue and poor diet were among the causes of low or no breastfeeding in mothers. Many mothers have a lack of energy and sleep after giving birth, which has a great impact on their breastfeeding process.

To increase breast milk she advised that mothers should pay attention to their rest and food and take more liquid.

Dr. Zarghoona Mehdi, a gynecologist in Kabul City, said: “Breast milk is said to be a complementary food, a digestible, absorbable food, and the first food of humanity. Of course, it is a God-given blessing that a baby can receive this food in the first hours after birth.”

She added that breast milk increased the child's body's resistance and could be easily digested and absorbed without any problems in the child's digestive system.

Dr. Zarghoona said: “Some mothers say that the baby is not getting enough milk, or that the milk is not enough, or that he is spitting up with the milk. When the mother is in an uncomfortable place, her sitting position is not correct. It is possible that the baby's mouth is blocked by the mother's breast. When the baby cannot suckle, his breathing becomes restricted. This is the same as when the baby cries, the mother thinks that the baby has spit up and if she does not feed him properly, the mother's milk decreases day by day.”

Besides the scientifically approved benefits of breastfeeding, The Islamic religion also stresses breastfeeding.

Noorullah Kawsar, one of the religious scholars, said that Islam considered breastfeeding the right of a baby.

He said: “Islamic teachings ordered that a newborn baby should be breastfed for at least two years, adding that a mother is incapable of breastfeeding or denied breastfeeding she could not be held accountable.”

He said the husband was also responsible for providing good food for her wife and providing other facilities helpful in the breastfeeding of the baby.

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