How breast milk programmes a baby’s long-term health and why India must improve its breastfeeding numbers
A report highlights the critical importance of exclusive breastfeeding for infant health and long-term immunity, noting that India's current rates remain below optimal levels. Barriers such as lack of workplace support, insufficient healthcare counseling, and cultural norms are identified as primary obstacles to improving these statistics.
Why it matters
Improving breastfeeding rates is a public health priority that directly impacts infant mortality and long-term developmental outcomes for nearly half of India's future population.
Lactation, or the process of making breast milk, starts months before a pregnant woman gives birth. The body prepares the first milk, a thick, yellow colostrum—often called ‘liquid gold’ —for the baby to drink soon after birth. A day or two after delivery is actually when the milk production intensifies.
The World Health Organization emphasises feeding colostrum in the ‘golden hour’, the first 60 minutes after birth, discourages pre-lacteal feeds (liquids or non-breast milk foods before breastfeeding onset), and recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)—only breast milk for the first six months of life. However, India’s National Family Health Survey-6 reveals that only 55.8% of babies under six months of age were exclusively breastfed in 2023–24.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in