Monday, May 25, 2009

Lactation/Breastfeeding Care Centre at Mylapore, Chennai India


MOTHERS & INFANTS LACTATION/BREASTFEEDING CARE CENTRE

‘MILC’ is an acronym for Mothers’ and Infants’ Lactation/Breastfeeding Care Centre. The ‘MILC’ Centre is the first of its kind in Chennai and perhaps in the whole of India.

Off late, with a growing number of premature births, multiple births, surgical childbirths and neonatal complications, new mothers are increasingly requiring help, counseling, guidance and support to ensure successful breastfeeding. Evidence-based medical research has clearly established that mother’s milk is the ‘perfect first food’ for the newborn, physiologically, developmentally and psychologically. Mother’s milk is Nature’s gift of a headstart for the baby. As soon as the baby is born, the mother’s milk that is secreted is called the colostrum and this is the ideal food for the baby’s developing stomach. It is concentrated in carbohydrates and proteins and low in fat and is easily digested. It also has a laxative effect and among the many benefits it bestows on the baby, this laxative effect helps to get rid of the excess ‘bilirubin’ that accumulates with childbirth as this can cause jaundice if in excess. Human milk is a species-specific first food that also helps the newborn develop a strong immune system to fight the many infections he/she will face. Studies have shown that babies fed human milk may have a higher I.Q than babies fed artificial formulas. Importantly, breastfeeding has been touted as a strong preventive factor in chronic diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, cardio-vascular disease, obesity and even in some cancers.

This ‘MILC’ Centre is the brainchild of Dr. & Mrs. Subramaniam and a Lactation Consultant, Dr. Padmini Balagopal. Dr.Padmini Balagopal, a Registered Dietitian, Diabetes Educator and a Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), was the state Nutritionist in Delaware, USA in the dept. of Residents’ Protection. She has also been involved in community education in the field of preventive health.

The ‘MILC’ Centre can be contacted with the following details and has also established a ‘warmline’. There are plans to start a training programme for health professionals to become credentialed as Lactation Consultants. All are welcome for the Inauguration.

Details to contact the Centre are given below:

          ‘MILC’ Centre

GF4, Shanti Towers,133, Luz Church Road,

Mylapore, Chennai-600004

Phone: 044-24992737

E-mail: milcchennai@gmail.com

URL: http://milccentrechennai.blogspot.com