This document discusses nutritional requirements and dietary recommendations during lactation. It begins by introducing lactation as the process by which a mother's body produces milk tailored to her offspring's needs. It emphasizes that optimal nutrition for the breastfeeding mother is critical because the newborn receives all its nutrition from breastmilk in the first few months. The document then outlines dietary recommendations for lactating mothers, including consuming a well-balanced diet and galactagogues (foods that increase milk supply). It describes a study conducted to assess breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and practices among mothers. The study found high breastfeeding knowledge but some gaps in attitudes and practices, such as introducing other foods and liquids too early. It concludes by recommending improved breast

1. Nutritional requirements and dietary
recommendations during lactation
By :- Mansi Sharma
Enrolment no. :- A4345420029

2. INTRODUCTION
 Lactation is an amazing process in which the
mother's body creates a secretion that has no
immediate advantage for the mother but can
completely support the offspring.All mammals
produce milk with diverse compositions, each
tailored to the needs of their offspring for
growth and development. Whether or not a
woman intends to breastfeed, her body
prepares for lactation from the beginning of
her pregnancy: the mammary gland begins its
maturational process with the development of
the alveolar ductal system and lacteal cells,
ensuring that the breast is ready to produce
milk when the baby is delivered. The hormonal
balance of a woman during pregnancy helps to
prepare the breast and stimulates the buildup
of energy stores, but also suppresses milk
production until the baby is born.

3.  Because the newborn gets all of his nutrition from the mother's milk during
the first few months of life, optimal nutrition of the mother during lactation
is equally critical. The child was usually nursed for 6 to 9 months. Because the
mother must nourish a fully grown and rapidly developing infant, she will
require more nutrients in addition to her own.On average, a well-nourished
mother secretes about 850ml of milk per day. In the event of a very
malnourished mother, the level might be as low as 400 ml per day.Breastfed
newborns have a six-fold better likelihood of surviving than non-breastfed
babies in the first six months. Breast milk reduces the risk of acute
respiratory infection and diarrhoea, two major newborn killers, as well as
other infectious disorders.
 Breast feeding exclusively throughout the first six months of life is
increasingly recognise as a global public health priority connected to lower
infant morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries.

4.  DIET AND FEEDING PATTERN
 A mother must continue to consume a well-balanced diet to meet the
increased nutritional requirements of lactation in order to breastfeed her
infant without putting undue strain on her own bodily reserves. Breastfeeding
mothers require not just more body-building and protecting nutrients, but
also more energy-producing foods in order to support the synthesis and
abundant secretion of mother's milk.During lactation, you have a lot of food
options. Except for extremely spiced and intensely flavored foods, which
contribute a flavor to the milk that the baby may find disagreeable.

5. GALACTAGOGUES
FOODS: -
 Foods that help produce more milk, these foods are called
galactagogues foods.
 1. FENUGREEK: Fenugreek is probably the most well-known herb for
assisting mothers in feeding their infants all over the world. It helps
to stimulate breast milk production.
 2. GINGER: It has been used as a remedy for various ailments for
centuries. It aids in the creation of mother's milk once again.
 3. CARROTS AND BEETS: Beta carotene is abundant in carrots and
beets. Vitamin A is formed when beta carotene is transformed to
vitamin A, which is required for milk production.
 4. DARK, LEAFY GREENS: Leafy greens contain iron, protein, and
vitamins that are essential for your milk supply. Phytoestrogens,
which are found in leafy greens, are thought to help with breast
health.
 5. SPICES: Turmeric and cumin are excellent spices for breastfeeding
mothers. They're high in iron, potassium, and manganese, and they
aid in the formation of breast milk.

6. RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY:
 The procedures or strategies
used to find, select, process, and
analyse information about the
issue are referred to as research
methodology.
 This descriptive cross-sectional
study was performed in the MAX
SMART SUPER SPECIALITY
HOSPITAL, SAKET.From 17th
January – 8th May 2022. Face to
face interview was conducted
through the questionnaire.

7. Sampling
 During the study period, all mothers of infants under the age of one who
visited the mother and child OPD in the study's medical region were
considered.All breastfeeding moms with babies under the age of one year who
were registered in the research medical locations agreed to take part.The
questionnaire was based on KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, and PRACTICES for those
who volunteered to participate

8. Sample Size:-
 The desired sample size was 50
moms. Mothers who visited the
MOTHER AND CHILD OPD and
post-delivery mothers at MAX
SMART SPECIALTY HOSPITAL,
SAKET were used to determine
the sample size.

9. Data collection:-
 The information was gathered using the
provided questionnaire. The questionnaire has
15 questions in three sections, each
containing five questions.The first segment
comprised of questions about basic lactation
knowledge with potential TRUE, FALSE, and
DON'T KNOW answers.The second section
included questions about values and attitudes
concerning breastfeeding, with answers
ranging from AGREE to DISAGREE to NOT
SURE.The third segment included questions
about the practises that lactating mothers
follow at this stage of life, with the answers
being optional. NO, YES, and DON'T KNOW.

10. Result:-
 Mothers Breastfeeding Knowledge
 –The majority of women (98%) were
aware that mother's milk is the baby's
first nourishment. 84.9 percent of
women were aware that breastfeeding
reduces diarrhea in infants, and 85
percent were aware that colostrum in
breast milk acts as a safe immunisations
for babies. Breastfeeding protects breast
cancer in 76.6 percent of moms, and
breastfeeding is an excellent family
planning approach in 70.8 percent. It
was shown that moms had a high
understanding of breastfeeding.

11.  Mother’s Breastfeeding Attitude-
 The majority of women (54.2%)
believed that bottle feed is the best
option. If a baby refuses to suckle
on the breast, more over half (80.9
percent) thought that formula
feeding is the best option. 16.7% of
women said they would breastfeed
in public locations. 38.3% agreed
that nursing takes a long time, and
17% of women said they had trouble
breastfeeding their kids until they
were six months old. Formula is
equally as healthful as breast milk,
according to 10.5 percent of moms.

12.  Mother’s Breast Feeding Practices-
 The majority (98%) responded with
receiving breastfeeding. The majority
(27.1%) of infants were fed with other
foods apart from breast milk before six
months of age. 46.8% of the infant were
introduced to solid foods at four months
of age. 55.3% of mothers gave colostrum
to their infants. Initiation of
breastfeeding within an hour of birth
was practiced by 66.7% of mothers in
this study. More than two-thirds of
infants, 69.6% (n= 50) were given other
milk at home apart from breast milk,
while only 29% continued with
breastfeeding.

13. Conclusion and recommendations
 The results of this KAP study supplied the essential baseline data and
evidence for selecting critical activity interventions. Although knowledge and
practises were evaluated as good, and attitudes were rated as fair, there
were gaps in moms KAPs about breastfeeding in this study. Breastfeeding's
maternal health benefits were poorly understood by mothers. The antenatal
clinic, women's reproductive programmes administered by local health
workers, community health programmes, non-governmental and faith-based
organizations, and women's group outreach initiatives in vulnerable areas are
all suggested platforms for raising awareness. Significant avenues would be in
World Health Day celebration centres where our people can come for free
health consultations and screenings because that is where our public health
staff can meet with the public and assist them with their needs in addition to
people flocking in large numbers for the festivities.

14.  Staff from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services should raise awareness
among women about the vital health benefits of breastfeeding, as this will
help to support and boost exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first six
months of life.
 To encourage moms to continue lactation at home following discharge from
the hospital, it is critical to strengthen family and community support. More
breastfeeding advocacy and education are needed to help moms make long-
term changes in their breastfeeding habits. Breastfeeding can be difficult to
maintain without a supporting environment, particularly from family.
 Based on the findings, the study proposes the following important
recommendations, which are predicted to improve mothers' breastfeeding
knowledge, attitude, and practises (KAPs) and hence increase breastfeeding
rates.Strengthen and improve breastfeeding awareness and teaching in all
maternity and infant health care centres and hospitals. To build and improve
good attitudes around breastfeeding, more advocacy and awareness are
needed at the community level and within faith-based organizations.

15. DISSERTATION
CERTIFICATE:-
 Dissertation time period –
 From 17th January to 8th may.

16. Questionnaire
 MOTHER’S BREASTFEEDING KNOWLEDGE
 1.Mother’s milk has all the nutrients that the baby need?a- TRUEb- FALSEc-
DON’T KNOW
 2.Colostrum in mothers milk works as a vaccine for baby? a) TRUEb) FALSEc)
DON’T KNOW
 3. Lactation can be continued for up to 2 years? a) TRUEb) FALSEc) DON’T
KNOW
 4. Lactating mothers should take healthy foods to improve mother milk supply
and secretion?a) TRUEb) FALSEc) DON’T KNOW
 5. Lactation prevents the mothers from breast cancer?a) TRUEb) FALSEc)
DON’T KNOW

17.  MOTHER’S BREASTFEEDING ATTITUDE:
 1.Formula feeding is the best choice if mother is planning to go back to the
work?a) Agree b) Disagree c) not sure
 2. Bottle feeding is the option if the baby refuses to suckle on the breast? a)
Agree b) Disagree c) Not sure
 3.Woman should not breastfeed in public places? a) Agree b) Disagree c) Not
sure
 4. Breastfeeding takes a lot of time?a) Agree b) Disagree c) Not sure
 5. A formula milk is just as healthy as breast milk? a) Agree b) Disagree c) Not
sure

18.  MOTHER’S BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES
 1. Colostrum is given to my baby.a) Yes b) No c) Don’t know
 2. Breastfeeding initiation was done within an hour of birth. a) Yes b) No c)
Don’t know
 3. From birth to discharge, the baby was fed with breast milk. a) Yes b) No c)
Don’t know
 4.The baby was given other foods apart from breast milk. a) Yes b) No c)
don’t know
 5. The baby was given other milk apart from breast milk. a) Yes b) No c) don’t
know