Doctors Advise Against Mobile Phone Use While Breastfeeding

Medical professionals have urged mothers to refrain from using mobile phones while breastfeeding their babies. In an interaction organized by Kantipur Health Online in Bharatpur to mark World Breastfeeding Week, doctors emphasized that mobile phone usage during breastfeeding offers no benefits to either mothers or babies.

Dr. Sweta Kumari Gupta, a pediatrician at Bharatpur Hospital, advised lactating mothers to avoid using mobile phones during breastfeeding sessions. She highlighted that mobile phone use can divert mothers’ attention away from their babies, causing them to be unaware of whether their baby has consumed enough milk. “Affection towards babies could decrease,” Dr. Gupta warned, emphasizing the importance of touch and emotional engagement to boost early childhood development.

Dr. Gupta also stressed the significance of proper posture for both mother and baby during breastfeeding. She mentioned that babies need nothing except their mother’s milk for the first six months of life, which helps protect them from conditions like pneumonia, diarrhea, and asthma. She advised that if new mothers need to work, they can collect and store their milk for later use. Breast milk kept at room temperature can be used within 4 to 6 hours, while refrigerated milk can be used within 24 hours. However, she recommended warming refrigerated milk by placing it in a container of hot water, rather than heating it directly.

Dr. Gupta stated that supplementary food should be introduced after six months and suggested that hospitals should implement policies to facilitate breastfeeding for babies born via surgery, as opposed to using powdered milk, which has been linked to health issues for both mothers and babies.

Prof. Dr. Sunil Mani Pokharel, gynecologist and Chief of Bharatpur Hospital’s Department of Gynecology, reiterated the benefits of regular breastfeeding for both mothers and babies. He noted that breastfeeding for the first six months promotes the health and physical development of the child and helps foster a strong bond between mother and baby. Additionally, Dr. Pokharel mentioned that regular breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers and is the ideal food for babies, reducing bleeding in women. He recommended breastfeeding for at least the first two years of a child’s life.

Dr. Pokharel expressed concern that some mothers avoid breastfeeding to maintain their physical appearance, which negatively impacts the physical and mental growth of their babies and can lead to health issues for the mothers themselves. He also highlighted a decrease in the number of maternity cases at Bharatpur Hospital, attributing it to local health clinics providing maternity services and the emigration of young people.

Chief Editor of Kantipur Health, Tilak Rimal, emphasized the need for widespread publicity about the importance of breastfeeding and called for creating a conducive environment for breastfeeding in workplaces.