In a bizarre incident that will make you question this man's sensibilities, a Kozhikode resident named Abubakr instructed his wife to not breastfeed their newborn.
The one-day-old child reportedly wasn't allowed to take his first feed because the father insisted that he hear all the five Azaans first, which would take 24 hours. He wanted his wife to only breastfeed after his child had heard the religious prayers.
The incident came to light when hospital staff found out that Hafsath (the mother) refused to feed her newborn on the insistence of her husband. They then decided to call the police and counsel the couple on how they were endangering the life of their child by following this rule.
Dr Saji CK, member, Indian Medical Association, Kozhikode, said, "The father claimed he will allow the child to be fed only after he hears five Azaans, which would take 24 hours."
"A newborn has to be fed or breastfed for at least two hours to ensure that there is no life-threatening complication," Dr Saji added. However, even after the insistence of the hospital authorities and the police, the couple left with their child, reportedly to an unknown location.
Benefits of breastfeeding
This news is a shocking reminder of the greater need to understand the importance of breastfeeding, especially for a newborn. Breastfeeding has various benefits, not just for the baby, but also for the mother. Here are a few examples:
- Complete feed: Breast milk is the complete food for a baby packed with proteins, vitamins, and even fats that are essential for his growth. It also has enough water content to help your baby through the day.
- Strengthens immunity: Breast milk contains colostrum, which is essentially a yellow(ish) first milk. This prepares the baby's stomach lining to properly digest the breastmilk and also acts to strengthen the immune system.
- Helps make your baby brainy: Among other benefits, breast milk contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is essential in the overall growth and development of the baby and also increases his intelligence quotient.
- Cements a bond: Breastfeeding cements the bond between a month and the baby. While breastfeeding, the mother produces oxytocin, which is a hormone that works on strengthening this bond.
- Helps the mother reduce weight: If a lactating mother produces 750 ml of breast milk each day, she can reduce close to about 500 calories. Breastfeeding also helps to shrink the uterus.
Read: India is breastfeeding-friendly but women must start a dialogue about its challenges, says Sonali Kulkarni
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