NGO reaches out to lactating women; seeks milk for abandoned infant girl

Meerut: In a bid to rescue an abandoned baby girl, a city-based NGO, Janhit Foundation, has appealed to lactating women in the city to help breastfeed the child.The 2-day old baby is currently admitted in the district hospital, where her condition continues to be critical.

Anita Rana, director of the organization, said "Mother's feed is the most important requirement soon after birth. The baby has been unlucky in this regard. If someone volunteers to breastfeed the child, the baby can be saved." The organization has contacted maternity nursing homes and hospitals to find, at least, one willing woman.

The NGO's opinion is voiced by the doctor treating the two-day old child.Dr. Anand Prakash, senior paediatrician at district hospital, said, "The baby is just two days old and is also premature, weighing just 1,350 grams. We are feeding her but the baby girl should ideally get mother's feed to develop an immunity against diseases. It would be difficult to find someone who is willing to help the baby this way, but at this stage, nothing can substitute a mother's milk."


The girl child was found in the jungles of Sardhana on Friday evening. Sandeep Kumar, a resident of Sardhana had found her wrapped in a red cloth near a sugarcane field. He immediately contacted Meerut Childline which is managed by Rana. "The new born had minor injuries from the shrubs she was thrown into. We immediately got her into district hospital", said Anita Rana.

Prominent city-based gynaecologist Anshu Jindal told TOI, "Breastfeeding is of immense importance to a newborn especially for the development of child's immunity against infections. Technically speaking, the main immune factor here is immunoglobin A (IgA) which is present in colostrum (the first milk that a mother's body produces for baby). It forms a protective layer on the mucus membranes in baby's intestines, nose and throat. In addition, the mother's milk also helps baby to pass out meconium (first stool that contains body's waste)."
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