Post-natal gaps in C-section deliveries leading to breastfeeding challenges for women, say experts
Doctors advised formula milk, which led to constipation in the infant and anxiety for the new mother.
The next day, Neha's family took her to a private medical college, where doctors explained that the delayed initiation of breastfeeding had disrupted the baby's natural latching instinct, affecting her milk production. With proper counselling and lactation training, Neha was able to begin breastfeeding within two days.
"I had no idea that timing and guidance were so important. I wish someone had explained this to me earlier," she said.
Neha's experience is not uncommon in new mothers. Doctors at govt and private teaching hospitals in the city say many women who deliver via C-section in private hospitals struggle to breastfeed. The issue, they emphasise, often lies not with the surgery, but with poor postnatal care and hospital practices.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Hospitals like King George's Medical University (KGMU), Era's Medical College, and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) report seeing 10–12 such cases every month.
In most instances, mothers delivered at other hospitals and approached these centres only after facing problems such as poor milk supply, failure to latch, or early dependence on formula feeding.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the rate of cesarean deliveries in Uttar Pradesh more than doubled—from 9.4% in 2015–16 to 21.5% in 2019–21—with most procedures taking place in private hospitals.
While many mothers report breastfeeding difficulties after C-sections, doctors insist the underlying problem is how newborns are handled immediately after birth.
"Cesarean surgery itself doesn't hamper breastfeeding," said dean of Era Medical College and senior paediatrician, Prof MM Faridi. "The real problem is that in many hospitals, babies are separated from their mothers for long hours and are bottle-fed.
This leads to nipple confusion, which makes breastfeeding much harder," he added.
Early skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding within the first hour of birth are crucial. The baby's suckling stimulates maternal hormones—prolactin and oxytocin—essential for milk production. However, many hospitals skip these steps. The absence of trained nurses and lactation consultants only worsens the problem. Prof Faridi advocates for mandatory lactation training and strict implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which recommends keeping mother and baby together to encourage early breastfeeding.
At KGMU, Prof Amita Pandey said, "In most C-section cases, we start breastfeeding even during surgery. Although mothers can take only oral fluids in the first 12 hours, milk production begins almost as it does in normal deliveries."
Prof Smriti Agrawal of Queen Mary's Hospital stressed the importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
18 hours ago
- India Today
Why neighbours, not doctors, may be the key to cervical cancer prevention
In 2024, cervical cancer claimed 80,000 lives in India, nearly a quarter of the global toll. Yet almost all of these deaths were preventable. Why are so many Indian women still dying from cervical cancer? The answer lies not in our hospitals, but in our homes, communities, and deep-rooted cultural research, accepted for publication in the Journal of Marketing, offers a groundbreaking insight: who delivers what message about cervical cancer screening REAL BARRIERS TO SCREENING As per the NFHS-5, only 1.9% of Indian women undergo cervical cancer screening (CCS), compared to over 70% in countries like Australia. Government campaigns rely heavily on posters and infographics warning of cervical cancer's dangers. While well-meaning, these tactics assume one key thing: that women are free to act on this reality, as our study shows, is far more across four Indian states, we found that two significant barriers stand in the way of CCS adoption: lack of awareness and disempowering sociocultural women simply do not know what cervical cancer is or why they should get screened. More troubling, even when aware, fear, stigma, and dependence on male family members often stop women from seeking there's hope, and it doesn't require expensive technology or a new infrastructure. Instead, it calls for rethinking who we empower to VS PEERS: WHO DO WOMAN LISTEN TO?We ran large-scale field experiments comparing different messengers and messaging styles. Unsurprisingly, doctors were trusted and doctors delivered factual information about cervical cancer, its risks, symptoms, and treatments, women responded more favourably than they did to impersonal the real breakthrough came when the message was delivered by a peer, another woman from the same community, using a tone of empowerment rather than local women shared stories that normalised CCS, addressed common taboos, and encouraged others to take control of their health, the impact was study showed that peer-delivered empowering messages were the right fit to persuade, leading to a 36.5% increase in screening adoption compared to standard 21 million additional Indian women potentially getting screened, an enormous win for public OVER FEARWhy does this work? Because women listen to women they relate a neighbor shares that she went for a screening and is now encouraging others to do the same, it's not just a health message; it's social permission. It breaks the silence, eases fears, and creates a ripple effect of doesn't mean doctors aren't important. Their involvement still significantly boosts perceived value and willingness to pay for when it comes to changing behaviour, peers are often better placed to overcome stigma and cultural resistance, especially when they deliver messages that empower rather than INDIA MUST DO NEXTThis insight has powerful implications for public health strategy. Here's what India can do:Rethink public health campaigns: Replace faceless posters and expert-heavy materials with real women from the community telling their stories in their own peer educators: Equip local health workers, ASHAs, and community leaders not just with facts but with tools to talk about screening in ways that resonate with women's daily lives and concerns. The tools do not have to be expensive. In our research, we used simple WhatsApp videos of messages from a female doctor and a female women to empower each other: Normalize conversations about reproductive health in women's self-help groups, anganwadi centers, and everyday settings like community kitchens or village civil society: NGOs that already have deep community ties can be pivotal in scaling peer-led interventions. Camp based screenings by NGOs with clear referral pathways can be particularly isn't just about saving lives. It's about reclaiming agency for millions of Indian women. It's about shifting the healthcare narrative from 'you should do this' to 'let's do this together.'advertisementThe fight against cervical cancer won't be won in labs, clinics or lecture halls, it will be won in kitchens, community halls, and farm recognising the power of peer influence and contextualising our health messages to women's lived experiences, India has the chance to move from awareness to action, and from silence to survival.- Ends
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Cabinet approves amendment to KGMU Act
Lucknow: The state cabinet has approved an amendment to the King George's Medical University (KGMU) Act, 2002, aimed at increasing the representation of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) on the university's executive council. The amendment, approved on Thursday, is intended to strengthen the protection and monitoring of constitutional rights for reserved categories within the institution. KGMU spokesperson KK Singh said that previously, the university's executive council included four faculty members from SC and OBC categories—two from the medical wing and two from the dental wing—for a period of about 14 years. The recent amendment expands this representation, allowing up to eight members from SC and OBC categories to join the council. These members may now be drawn from a broader range of faculties, including medicine, dental, paramedical, and nursing, reflecting the university's diverse academic structure. tnn Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Flu to fatigue, hospitals in Noida and Ghaziabad see rise in patients with monsoon illnesses
Noida: As humidity levels spike, both govt and private hospitals in both Noida and Ghaziabad have registered over 20% increase in monsoon-related illnesses. Doctors reported a rise in cases of flu, fungal infections, skin rashes allergic bronchitis, and fatigue, with 10-12 patients presenting daily with such symptoms. Govt hospital OPD footfalls have surged to over 500-600 per day this week. Dr Vandana Garg, senior consultant, internal medicine at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali said at least 10 to 12 such cases are being reported daily, which is much higher than usual for this time of year. "Humidity creates a perfect environment for viruses, bacteria, and fungi to thrive. We are seeing more patients coming in with persistent colds, coughs, unexplained fatigue, and skin issues." Dr Mukta Agarwal, consultant, internal medicine, Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad also said that the hospital has seen a 10%-14% rise in patients visiting OPDs complaining about issues such as respiratory problems, skin allergies, dengue asthma exacerbation, among other ailments. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida Govt hospitals, especially in Ghaziabad, are witnessing a similar trend too. Santram Verma, a general physician at MMG Hospital, said, "There has been a surge in OPD footfall due to monsoon-triggered infections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Allergic bronchitis and fungal infections are particularly common this season, especially among children and the elderly." In Noida District Hospital too, skin-related ailments and viral fever cases are on a rise. Doctors attribute the spike in the cases to prolonged exposure to damp clothes, closed environments with poor ventilation, and consumption of contaminated water. "We are advising patients to stay hydrated, avoid street foodand keep surroundings clean and dry," said a senior physician at Noida District Hospital. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
