Breast Feeding Week Celebration - 2016

Manipal College of Nursing (MCON) Manipal observed World Breastfeeding Week from 1st to 7th August 2016 on the theme “Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development!”

August 29, 2016

Various activities were planned and conducted based on the action ideas and are given below:

Activity I: Awareness among the school and college students:

A session on breast feeding, its importance and how to promote breast feeding in family and community was taken by Mrs Yashoda Sathish and Mrs. Shobha Nayak for degree college students in G. Shankar Degree College, Ajjarkad, Udupi on 4th August 2016. Seventy three students participated in the session. The session was interactive and appreciated by students and teachers. 

A session on lactation was taken by Dr. Sonia RB D’Souza, Associate Professor, Department of OBG Nursing, MCON Manipal, at Government Teachers Training Institute, Udupi on 06.08.2016 to the students and faculty. A total of 15 participants attended the session. 

Activity II: Educating the health professionals:
An awareness program for the staff nurses of Dr. TMA Pai Hospital, Udupi was organized on 9th August 2016. Dr. Mamatha S. Pai, discussed on early initiation of breast feeding and counseling skills. 

The criteria for good attachment and assessment was discussed by Mrs. Maria Pais. The session had discussion, demonstration, clarification of doubts and a video related to breast feeding was shown. Twelve staff nurses attended the session. 

Mrs. Anjalin D’Souza and Mrs. Binu Margaret, Assistant Professors, Dept. of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing educated 19 staff nurses of Kasturba Hospital Manipal on the theme, ‘Breastfeeding: A Key to attain Sustainable goals” on 10th and 11th August 2016. The points highlighted were: importance of breast feeding in achieving the sustainable goals, early initiation of breastfeeding, importance of attachment and positioning in the success of breastfeeding, counselling skills, nurse’s role in building the confidence of the mothers and supporting mothers in the breastfeeding. It was emphasized to transfer the information what they have learnt to the other nurses and encourage mothers to continue breast feeding.
Situation analysis was also done for the staff nurses to explore the problems and challenges they face in initiating the breastfeeding and ways to overcome was emphasized. 

An awareness programme on breastfeeding for ASHA workers of Hirebettu PHC and Pernankila PHC was conducted on 25th July 2016. Dr. Shashidhara Y.N., Head, Department of Community Health Nursing, MCON Manipal explained on the benefits of breastfeeding, importance and composition of breast milk and various positions and attachment while feeding.  

This was followed by a talk and demonstration regarding positioning the baby, expression of breast milk, feeding during and management of breast conditions by Mrs. Ansuya, Assistant Professor, MCON Manipal. Dr Vijayalakshmi, Medical Officer, Hirebettu PHC emphasized the need to share the information with others in the community and ensure practice. Discussion was also held with ASHA workers regarding perception, problems to practice breastfeeding and concerns were addressed. The programme was attended by 20 ASHA workers and other staff members of the two PHCs. 

Activity III: Debate competition:

A debate competition was held on August 10th, 2016 on the theme “Breastfeeding: A key to Sustainable Development – Is it possible to achieve in Indian scenario?” Six teams (three members each) of post graduate students of Manipal College of Nursing participated in the debate competition. Each team shared their views mainly emphasizing on how breast feeding benefits - like it provides perfect nutrition, bonds mother and child, protect against infections and illness, prevents diarrhoea, reduces the risk of respiratory infection, promoting the recovery of the sick child and enhances the development and intelligent. Best two teams were awarded.

Activity IV: Awareness programme on “Breastfeeding” for mothers and caregivers:

An interactive health education session on “Breast feeding and its importance” to the inpatients and their relatives of postnatal wards of Kasturba Hospital Manipal was conducted on 5th and 6th of August 2016. Session was taken twice in wards for different groups. Mothers were educated on development of breast and physiology of lactation, initiation of breast feeding, how breast milk works, latching Vs. bonding, positions, care of breast before and after feed, contents of breast milk, difficulties encountered and its treatment, nutrition for mother and advantages of breast feeding to the mother and baby. Total of 40-50 postnatal mothers and relatives participated and got benefitted out of teaching. Concerns of the mothers were clarified during the session.

An awareness programme on “Breast feeding” was conducted on 2nd August, 2016 at 2.00 pm to 14 postnatal mothers. Mrs. Anasuya Prabhu, Assistant Professor, Department of Child Health Nursing, educated the postnatal mothers regarding breast feeding, its importance, techniques, methods, benefits, hunger cues, breast massage, expression of breast milk and its storage. Mothers were benefited by this awareness programme, feedback about this programme was taken from the mothers.  

Activity VIII: Talk in Radio FM-90.4 
To create public awareness, a talk in the form of a role play in English and local language Kannada was delivered by 2nd Year MSc Nursing students of Manipal College of Nursing Manipal on the theme “Breast feeding: A key to Sustainable Goals”. The session highlighted the importance of early initiation of breast feeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, continuing breastfeeding till two years, avoiding formulae feeds and its disadvantages, positioning and attachment, expression and storage of breast milk. The programme was broadcasted in Radio FM- 90.4 on 5th, 6th and 7th August 2016.

The one week event was organized by the faculty and II MSc Nursing students of Department of Child Health Nursing, Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing and Community Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal and coordinated by Mrs. Binu Margaret, Dr Baby S Nayak, Mrs. Shobha & Mrs. Prathiba.

Number of activities were organized for the college students, nurses, ASHA workers and the postnatal mothers. The theme focused on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that governments around the world have agreed to achieve by 2030 through the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.
The objectives of World Breastfeeding Week 2016 were to:
• inform people about the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how improving breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices contributes in achieving these goals.
• engage and collaborate with a wider range of actors for promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.
• explore ways to mobilize a variety of actions at all levels to enhance breastfeeding and IYCF.

The activities were planned based on the theme and action ideas given by BPNI to achieve sustainable development goals through protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding are:

Activity V: Situational Analysis:
Situation analysis on early initiation of breast feeding by postnatal mothers was discussed. The hindering factors brought during the discussion were: baby is not sucking, low birth weight baby, baby was in NICU, mother was in pain and in post-operative ward, there was insufficient milk, relatives did not bring baby to post-op and did not allow to take baby to post-op.
The challenges faced by the mothers while breastfeeding the baby were:- baby was not sucking, milk was not sufficient, baby needed to be stimulated as it was sleeping in between, did not know how to hold the baby during feeds, no strength, mother had pain, was not able to sit and was too tired.
The mothers perception about milk produced during first three days of delivery was that milk was sufficient and good for baby. They had obtained knowledge from health care providers and relatives. Some mothers felt that milk was not sufficient, as baby was crying always and not sleeping. Thus it is concluded that awareness and education to all the mothers will help in improving the knowledge for early initiation of breastfeeding. Concerns were addressed and mothers and staff nurses were educated on breastfeeding.  

Activity VI: Lactation counselling
Lactation counselling on breast feeding for 50 postnatal mothers and relatives admitted in Kasturba Hospital-Manipal was given by students and the faculty of MCON who were trained as Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling specialist. Mothers were educated on physiology of lactation, initiation of breast feeding, how breast milk works, latching Vs bonding, positions for feeding, care of breast before and after feed, contents of breast milk, difficulties encountered and its treatment, nutrition for mother and advantages of breast feeding to the mother and baby. Some of the working mothers enquired about maintenance of lactation. 

Activity VII: Community awareness through social media:

To bring awareness among the public, a newspaper article on “Breast feeding for working mothers” was published in ‘Udayavani’ Kannada daily newspaper in two parts on 31st July 2016 & on 7th August 2016. This article was written by Mrs. Anusuya, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal.