Breast feeding and infant growth
Gopalan, S.; Puri, R.K.
Indian Pediatrics 29(8): 1079-1086
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 1459716 Document Number: 391363
Various studies demonstrate that the lactation potential of relatively undernourished mothers in developing countries equals that of women in developed countries. It can also sustain optimal growth as well as that of women in developed countries. Studies at the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad, India, show that the average poor woman secrets 500 to 800 ml of breast milk/day for the first 6 months and that little difference in breast milk intakes at 3 months exists between these women and those from developed countries. Even though breast milk of women in developing countries has a lower fat content than that of women in developed countries, the protein levels correspond. Further, caloric content of breast milk from undernourished and well nourished women is basically similar. Moreover, food supplementation for undernourished women does not greatly improve the macronutrient or quantity composition of breast milk. On the other hand, breast milk of undernourished mothers has lower levels of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins than that of well nourished women, revealing their vitamin deficiencies. Studies show that undernourished women in India can successfully begin breast feeding and breast feed for up to 24 months. Breast fed infants of undernourished mothers in India grow just as well as those of well nourished mothers during the first 6 months of life. The evidence in India indicates that, ideally, supplementary feeding should not begin before 6 months, and definitely, not before 4 months, to reduce the risk of infection (especially diarrheal disease) and delay the return to fertility. Industrialization and urbanization in India results in more and more women, especially those in urban slums, not having the option to exclusively breast feed their infants. This change adversely affects infant heath; so pediatricians, administrators, and policymakers must come up with initiatives to counter these effects.