Abstract

IMPORTANCE OF BREASTFEEDING IN CHILDREN- A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Ajay Vinayakrao Nakade* and Sheetal L. Thosar

ABSTRACT

Human breast milk provides optimal nutrition for infants. Prevailing tendency of early weaning and using of formulated milk for infants causes significant health consequences in children even with long term impact on quality of life. This review is based on the Ayurveda texts and web sources to determine the merits of breastfeeding and impact of human milk and its substitutes on child health in relation to the Ayurveda and modern concepts. Gradual withdrawal of breastfeeding as Stanya Apananyana and introduction of fruits or semisolid food as Phalaprasana- Annaprasana Vidhi indirectly mentioning the exclusive breastfeeding at least up to the age of six months per Ayurveda. The importance of breast milk is identified by Ayurvedic way of age classification of children as Ksheerapa and Ksheeraannada which based on their main diet respectively continue to be breast milk up to one year and up to 2 years who feeds on milk and semisolid foods. Ayurveda emphasizes the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of human breast milk, characteristics of Dhatri, methods of breast feeding and methods to enhance the quality of breast milk. Earlier breastfeeding is encouraged in Ayurveda which provides rich nutrient composition of colostrums to the infant. Sufficient amounts of nutrients, growth factors and immunity enhancers from human breast milk can sustain the life of a child. The lowered tendency to have diarrhea, asthma, childhood obesity and many infectious diseases and influence of Dosha on the nutrients of human milk were proven by the modern scientific findings regarding breastfeeding. Ayurveda advised to substitute human milk with Cow’s milk or Goat’s milk in a non- availability. Recent research findings support nutrients of these natural milk varieties as efficacious rather than the formulated milk. Thus, there is a need to promote exclusive breastfeeding as per Ayurveda for giving optimal nutrition and immunity to the child.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Breastfeeding, Human milk, Nutrition.