A number of obstetricians and gynecologists say that improper breastfeeding practices and misconceptions about the diets of breastfeeding mothers can put infants’ health at risk. According to them, some families still hold beliefs about breastfeeding mothers’ diets, causing women to avoid eating foods that are beneficial to them or rely on traditional remedies to treat illnesses. In some cases, these issues can reduce the amount of breast milk mothers produce and lead to nutritional problems for infants.
Doctors emphasize that breastfeeding mothers should have a balanced and adequate diet and consult health workers about health problems rather than follow unscientific advice.
Nargis Mirzaei, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Takhar, says many mothers do not have enough knowledge about proper breastfeeding practices and their own nutrition.
“Many mothers do not know how to breastfeed their babies properly or how to maintain a healthy diet. When a mother is stressed or does not eat well, her milk can decrease, and the baby may not receive enough nutrition. On the other hand, there are also some incorrect traditional beliefs. For example, it is said that a breastfeeding mother should not eat fatty or spicy foods because they can affect her milk or cause the baby to have stomach pain. Some also believe that if a baby develops jaundice, the mother should completely avoid oil. These beliefs have no scientific basis. A mother should have a balanced and nutritious diet to stay healthy and produce enough milk for her baby,” she says.
Sona Ahmadi, a midwife in Takhar, also says that some mothers, because of misconceptions, consider the first milk, or colostrum, to be unclean or unhealthy and do not give it to their babies. She says, however, that colostrum is important for strengthening a newborn’s immune system. She adds that excessive dietary restrictions among breastfeeding mothers can also lead to weakness among mothers and nutritional problems for their babies.
“Some people say that the first milk, or colostrum, is forbidden, but it is actually very beneficial for babies and helps strengthen their immune systems. If a baby develops stomach pain after breastfeeding, the mother can change her diet for a few days, but she should not completely stop eating certain foods. Nutritious foods, including foods containing protein and fat, are important for meeting the mother’s nutritional needs. Stress can also reduce milk production. If a mother becomes ill, she should see a doctor and continue breastfeeding her child until the age of two. If the baby is weak, the mother should breastfeed 12 times a day, and if the baby is healthy, eight times a day. Mothers should not place too much value on what other people say and should take the advice of health workers seriously,” she adds.
Meanwhile, a number of women in Takhar have criticized the misconceptions about the diets of breastfeeding mothers in some families, saying that following these beliefs has, in some cases, affected their own health and the health of their babies.
Shamsia, a resident of Takhar, says that because of her family’s misconceptions, she avoided many nutritious foods and fresh fruits while breastfeeding, which, she says, affected her child’s health.
“When I became a mother for the first time, I had no experience. While breastfeeding, I did not keep my baby’s head elevated, and milk entered the baby’s lungs, causing the baby to die. When I became a mother for the second time, I was very careful and paid attention not something happen to my baby. My mother-in-law told me that a breastfeeding woman should not eat fruit, vegetables, or certain foods because they would cause the baby to have stomach pain. I followed her advice and, for some time, ate only bread, soup, and tea. They did not even let me go to a doctor, saying, ‘Back in our day, there were not so many doctors.’ I relied on home remedies instead. As a result, I was weak and did not produce enough milk. My baby cried constantly and became thinner day by day. Eventually, when I took the baby to a doctor, I was told that the child was suffering from malnutrition,” she says.
Latifa Hakimi, another 24-year-old mother from Takhar, says that during breastfeeding, she received different advice from her doctor and her husband’s family. She says,
“This is my first child. When my baby was born, the doctor told me that I could eat any kind of food. But my mother-in-law told me that a breastfeeding woman should eat plenty of fatty meat, animal fat, and turmeric to increase her milk and should avoid certain foods. And I eat every food my mother-in-law told me, but my baby did not become stronger. Instead, the baby cried a lot and had stomach problems. Even when I became ill, they told me not to take medicine because it would dry up my milk. They gave me home remedies instead of allowing me to see a doctor. But when my baby developed a high fever and diarrhea, I took the baby to a doctor, and the child was hospitalized for about a week. The doctor told me that the foods I had eaten had harmed the baby. I deeply regret not following the doctor’s advice.”
Kamela, another mother from Takhar, also says that during the first months of breastfeeding, misinformation and dietary restrictions imposed by her family prevented her from properly caring for her baby. She says her child is now underweight and physically weak. She says,
“When I had just become a mother, I did not eat whatever I wanted. My mother always told me not to eat ‘cold’ foods or watery fruits such as melon and watermelon, or yogurt. They also told me not to drink cold water because the baby would become ‘cold’ or develop stomach problems. So, I mostly ate dry and light foods. Some days, I ate only tea and bread. Whenever I became ill, no one allowed me to take medicine, saying that medicine would spoil my milk. With these beliefs, my baby reached the age of one but did not gain enough weight and was always restless. When I took the baby to a doctor, I was told that the child was anemic and, because the baby had not received enough breast milk, was underweight and physically weak.”
The experiences of these mothers show that misconceptions about breastfeeding and maternal nutrition are not limited to dietary restrictions. In some cases, they also affect women’s access to health services and their use of medication. However, doctors emphasize that breastfeeding mothers should have a balanced and varied diet to protect their own health and that of their infants. They should also see health workers if they become ill or experience problems with breastfeeding.
Proper nutrition, adequate rest, and receiving health advice can also play an important role in maintaining a mother’s health and meeting her infant’s nutritional needs. Ultimately, increasing families’ awareness of proper breastfeeding practices and avoiding unscientific advice can help mothers go through the breastfeeding period without unnecessary pressure and restrictions, while ensuring that infants receive adequate nutrition.
Reporter: Shaima Yolduz
