PERINATOLOGY • Vol 24 • No. 1 • May–Aug 2023 40 Improving Breastfeeding Rates in Working Mothers: Uncovering Barriers and Working Out Solutions in the Indian Scenario Mishu Mangla*, Naina Kumar *Correspondence Dr Mishu Mangla Assistant Professor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bibinagar Hyderabad 508126, Telangana India E-mail: mishusingla83@gmail.com Abstract Breastfeeding is one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods to ensure adequate nutrition for a baby during the initial years of life. The rates of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in India are better (65%–75%, with regional variations) compared with the global rate of 40%. Still there are many babies who are not being given the benefit of this natural practice. Improving the rates of breastfeeding in working mothers can improve the national rates of breastfeeding. The barriers to achieve universal EBF in India are at multiple levels, including social, cultural, economic, and even individual levels. An attempt has been made to summarize the barriers that working women face in successfully breastfeeding their babies, and a few possible solutions have been suggested. Key Words: Child nutrition, breastfeeding, working women, lactation room, crèche, legislations, maternity Introduction Breastfeeding is one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods to ensure adequate nutrition for a baby during the initial years of life. The WHO recommends that mothers should initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of life, practice exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months, provide breastfeeding on demand, and should continue breastfeeding for at least 2 years of the baby’s life.1 If this could be implemented universally, nearly 820,000 children’s lives could be saved worldwide, every year.2 Review Article
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