Breastfeeding is fundamental to a child’s survival by strengthening immunity and providing all the nutrients needed for healthy growth and development in the first six months of life . Initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and feeding colostrum (the first nutrient-rich breast milk produced immediately after birth) provides newborns with essential antibodies and high levels of bioavailable nutrients that protect against infection. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months thereafter supports healthy growth and reduces the risk of diarrhoea and respiratory diseases. Over the past decade, India has made significant progress in promoting these practices through strong health systems, community awareness and maternal and child health initiatives. (Photo courtesy – istock)
These efforts are clearly reflected in the data. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) shows that breastfeeding is a deeply rooted cultural practice in India, with 95.1 per cent of children aged 0-5 months being breastfed and 73.2 per cent of children continuing to breastfeed between 20 and 23 months. However, continuing exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended first six months remains a challenge. While the exclusive breastfeeding rate was recorded at 63.7 per cent in NFHS-5, it has fallen to 55.8 per cent in the latest NFHS-6. This decline tells us something important. This challenge is not just one of awareness or maternal willingness, but also highlights the everyday challenges that make it difficult to continue exclusive breastfeeding without adequate nutritional, emotional and practical support.
For too long, the discussion of breastfeeding has focused almost entirely on the baby. How often does the baby breastfeed, whether breastfeeding was initiated within the first hour of birth, and whether it continued exclusively for six months. While the baby’s needs remain central, supporting the mother who makes breastfeeding possible is often considered secondary. Still, good maternal health is essential for healthier babies.
Professor and Head of Physiology at St. John’s Medical College, and Senior Advisor on Health and Nutrition at Tata Trusts, Dr. Anur Kurupad said, “A lesser-known aspect of breastfeeding is that while the mother’s body naturally prioritizes the nutritional needs of the baby, it often does so at the expense of its own nutritional reserves. During breastfeeding, essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, folate, calcium and copper are transferred into breast milk even when the mother’s diet is inadequate. While this remarkable biological adaptation helps protect the newborn, it can gradually weaken mothers, increasing the risk of anemia, bone loss, micronutrient deficiencies, fatigue and overall poor health. Yet, breastfeeding also provides significant health benefits to mothers, including faster uterine recovery after childbirth, less postpartum hemorrhage, support for healthy birth spacing through breastfeeding reversibility, and a reduced lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer. To achieve these benefits while successfully continuing breastfeeding, we must recognize that supporting the mother’s nutrition and health is not separate from supporting the baby, but rather is its foundation.”
Supporting breastfeeding requires going beyond awareness and creating a supportive environment for mothers. Every level of support is important, from families and communities to frontline health workers and health systems. Here are five evidence-based ways we can better support women after childbirth.
One of the easiest ways to support breastfeeding is to fill the extra-calorie gap:
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an additional 500-600 kcal per day, along with increased protein and micronutrient intake, during the first six months of breastfeeding. However, for many women, especially in resource-poor settings, meeting these additional nutritional needs is difficult. Bridging this nutritional gap through good-quality family meals, community feeding initiatives, dietary counseling, and social support can significantly improve maternal health, reduce fatigue, and help mothers continue breastfeeding with more confidence.
Expensive food is not needed to support maternal nutrition:
Good nutrition during breastfeeding does not depend on special supplements or expensive superfoods. Including simple things in your daily diet can make a significant difference. An extra serving of porridge, a glass of milk or yogurt, an egg if culturally acceptable, broken grains, roasted chickpeas, nuts, seasonal fruits and vegetables, seed powders or a little extra healthy oil can all help meet the increased nutritional needs of breastfeeding. The aim is not to replace the traditional diet but to make the diet more nutritious by improving meal frequency, dietary variety and the availability of locally available nutritious foods. Small changes made consistently can make a significant impact.
Position and method are just as important as nutrition:
Poor positioning, inadequate latching, and irregular breastfeeding can lead to poor milk transfer, sore nipples, and unnecessary anxiety. These challenges are common but easily preventable. Timely guidance from nurses, lactation consultants, and frontline health workers can improve both a mother’s confidence and her baby’s breastfeeding outcomes.
Breastfeeding is physically difficult and emotionally challenging too:
Exclusive breastfeeding in the first few months means feeding 11-12 times a day and night, which can leave mothers unable to get enough sleep during the recovery period. This challenging routine can lead to fatigue, stress and emotional distress. Rest, shared caregiving responsibilities, emotional resilience, access to mental health support and practical help at home are essential not only to reduce the risk of postpartum depression but also to help mothers continue to breastfeed. Supporting a mother’s physical and emotional recovery is not separate from, but essential to, breastfeeding success.
Breastfeeding is best when the family supports the mother:
Breastfeeding is often described as a mother’s responsibility, but in reality it is a shared responsibility. Families, communities, employers, health care providers, and public institutions all have a role to play in creating conditions that enable mothers to breastfeed successfully. At home, husbands and family members can share household responsibilities, ensure mothers receive nutritious food, encourage continued iron and calcium supplements, and give mothers time and space to recover from childbirth.
Perhaps it is time to shift the conversation from ‘Is she breastfeeding enough?’ to ‘Are we doing enough to support her?’ Breastfeeding is not only sustained by mothers’ commitment, but also by families that share responsibility, communities that encourage and inform, health systems that provide timely guidance, and policies that put mothers’ health at the center. When mothers receive proper nutrition, support, and care, babies are much more likely to have the healthiest start in life possible.