World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), held in the first week of August every year, is a global campaign supported by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. This initiative was started in 1992 to encourage mothers to breastfeed their children and build a support community for new mothers who face any difficulties in breastfeeding.

Why Did We Need An Awareness Week?

Gynaecologist, obstetrician and founder of Baby Soon Fertility and IVF Center, Dr Jyoti Bali with 26 years of experience says, “A reason why some mothers stopped breastfeeding was because of the increased marketing of formula as a convenient solution compared to breastfeeding.”

Experts agree that women undergo physical changes in their bodies during their pregnancy and while breastfeeding too, however, these have been exaggerated. “Breastfeeding can lead to temporary changes in breast size and shape, but these changes are typically normal and revert to baseline after weaning. Perceptions about breastfeeding causing long-term body changes are often unscientific or exaggerated,” says Dr Rao.

These were some of the reasons why women stopped breastfeeding and thus an initiative like World Breastfeeding Week was started. This also aims to highlight the health benefits to the mother and the child on breastfeeding.

Benefits of Breastfeeding on Mother

Rao says that for the mother, it helps in faster postpartum recovery, reduces the risk of certain cancers, and can help with postpartum weight loss.

“Breast Feeding helps the mothers to shed their pregnancy weight more quickly because the production of milk requires the burning of calories,” agrees Dr Bali.

Other health benefits to mothers are postpartum healing, bonding with the baby and a decrease in the risk of ovarian cancer, mentions Dr Bali.

Breastfeeding Benefits on Baby

There are also nutritional values that help a preterm baby in his or her development. “For example, breast milk's higher protein content makes it easier for premature babies to absorb and digest than formula, which encourages better weight gain. Premature babies often have specific nutritional needs due to their early birth. Breast milk provides a tailored balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that support their rapid growth and development. The composition of breast milk adjusts to meet the changing needs of a preterm infant, including higher levels of certain nutrients,” says Dr Goel.

Dr Bali also points out that breast milk contains antibodies, probiotics and DHA and ARA, a kind of fatty acids that are required for brain development. Thus, a baby can benefit a great deal from breastfeeding.

Health Risks When Not Breastfeeding

Poor breastfeeding practices in infancy and early childhood, resulting in malnutrition, contribute to impaired cognitive and social development, poor school performance and reduced productivity in later life.

Sarwa points out that psychological factors like stress, anxiety, postpartum depression, poor latch due to anatomical issues or improper positioning, and other medical conditions are the common reasons for this. “Identification and management of the specific cause, appropriate counselling by a healthcare provider, support (emotional and workplace both) and alternative feeding options,” he says.

Unable To Breastfeed Your Child? Here is What You Can Do

Do not be worried about its safety, Dr Rao says that donated milk is screened, pasteurised, and distributed to ensure safety and nutrition.

Are You a Working Mother?

“Purchasing a superior electric breast pump can increase the effectiveness of the procedure. Maintaining a consistent pumping schedule—ideally, every three to four hours—helps keep the milk supply steady. Pumped milk can be refrigerated for up to four days if stored in sterile containers or bags that have been labelled with the date and time. Milk can be frozen and thawed for extended storage,” suggests Dr Goel.

Amid rising obesity, early diabetes risk, and mental health issues among children, India has expanded its child health screening program to include behavioral disorders and non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare rolled out the screening measures under the revised Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 guidelines.

The guidelines include steps to address mental health conditions and early risk factors for diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. These were released at the recently concluded National Summit on Good Practices and Innovations in Public Healthcare Service Delivery.

The screening services are free and will be delivered through mobile health teams at Anganwadi centers and schools, ensuring universal outreach and early identification.

What Does The RBSK 2.0 Guideline Include?

• The guidance document establishes, for the first time, a structured and standardized national framework for the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of childhood diabetes. It calls for universal screening of all children from birth to 18 years.

• Suspected cases will undergo immediate blood glucose testing and timely referral to district-level health facilities for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment.

• A free-of-cost care package will be available at public health facilities. This includes screening, diagnostic services, lifelong insulin therapy, monitoring devices such as glucometers and test strips, and regular follow-up care. This will reduce the financial burden and ensure uninterrupted treatment for children diagnosed with diabetes.

• The initiative promotes the “4Ts” awareness framework—Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, and Thinner—enabling parents, teachers, and caregivers to recognize early warning signs of Type 1 diabetes.

• The document also emphasizes the need to provide structured training on insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, emergency response, and daily disease management. It outlines evidence-based treatment guidelines, regular monitoring schedules, and protocols for preventing complications.

• RBSK 2.0 introduces digital health cards, real-time data systems, and integrated platforms for tracking, monitoring, and service delivery. These digital innovations are expected to enhance program efficiency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making across all levels of implementation.

Signs Of Diabetes In Children

Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus can develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if it is not diagnosed on time, since they are insulin-dependent.

Dr. Archana Arya, Senior Consultant Pediatric & Adolescent Endocrinologist at the Institute of Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, told HealthandMe that DKA requires hospitalization for treatment, and if undiagnosed, it can lead to coma and death. Early diagnosis reduces morbidity and hospital admissions.

These children present with typical symptoms such as

• increased thirst,
• frequent urination,
• weight loss.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus may or may not present with typical symptoms, and children may develop long-term complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy if the condition goes undiagnosed for a prolonged period.

All overweight and obese children, especially those with a family history of Type 2 diabetes, those with acanthosis nigricans (thickened and dark skin behind the neck and underarms), and girls with PCOS are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and should be screened annually to prevent complications.

The expert added that children with diabetes are at a higher risk of depression (2–3 times higher prevalence), anxiety, and suicidal ideation (in 8–27 percent of youth) due to dietary restrictions and the burden of multiple insulin injections in Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic youth are 1.7 times more likely to attempt suicide, often through insulin overdose.

Why Is The Initiative Important?

Dr. Seema Dhir, Unit Head & Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Artemis Hospitals, told HealthandMe that good health in early life is essential for preventing non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Diabetes is often linked to poor lifestyle and health choices.

Early monitoring, detection, and effective management can reduce the growing burden of diabetes.

Dr. Munia Bhattacharya, Senior Consultant – Clinical Psychology, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, emphasized that preventing non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity begins with maintaining both mental and physical well-being.

Providing mental support to children helps them cope better with stress and reduces the risk of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

Children who are encouraged to express their feelings and seek help are less likely to experience anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies. Early awareness also builds coping skills, decision-making abilities, and healthier lifestyles—paving the way for long-term well-being and a more balanced, confident future.

Babies exposed to pollution, especially vehicle exhaust, during the first trimester of pregnancy had worse language skills at 18 months, according to a study.

The research, published in the Journal of Physiology, found that children exposed to traffic emissions have different brain structure sizes, attributed to pollution exposure in the womb.

Notably, pollution had an even greater impact on babies born pre-term, with this group showing poorer motor as well as language skills.

“We wanted to establish if air pollution levels related to cognitive, language, and motor abilities in this critical period of early childhood. The first 1,000 days from conception to age two shape long-term brain health and behavior,” said lead author Dr Alexandra Bonthrone, from King’s College London.

What Did The Study Find?

The team involved 498 infants from Greater London between 2015 and 2020. Of the cohort, 125 were born prematurely, and within that group, 54 were born less than 32 weeks – known as ‘very and extremely preterm’.

Analyzing pollutants like particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, which are emitted by traffic exhaust, the researchers estimated the amount of pollution mothers were exposed to during pregnancy based on their home postcode.

The infants underwent a standard clinical test of development, known as the Bayley Scales, which measures cognitive, language, and motor skills, with scores of 100 reflecting the population average.

Those exposed to high pollution in the first trimester of pregnancy scored on average 5-7 points lower compared to babies exposed to low pollution on language tests. There was no association with pollution in the second and third trimesters.

Premature babies exposed to the highest pollution levels in the womb across all of pregnancy scored on average 11 points less than those exposed to low levels for motor skills.

How Pollution Impacts Fetal Health

Breathing in air pollution is the second largest risk factor for death in children under 5 globally, second only to malnutrition, according to the State of Global Air Report.

According to experts, maternal exposure to pollution increases the risk of miscarriage, pre-term births, stillbirths, birth defects, and congenital heart disease, among others.

Toxic particles can cross the placenta, the temporary organ that links a baby to the mother through the umbilical cord, and disrupt normal development. They trigger inflammation in the placenta, which creates resistance to blood flow. Over time, the blood vessels become damaged, reducing the amount of blood reaching the fetus.

Air pollution can mess with how nutrients reach the baby, which often leads to low birth weight. Research also shows that when a pregnant woman is exposed to polluted air, the risk of stillbirth goes up, especially in the third trimester.

High levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are linked to low birth weight and premature birth, both of which can cause other health problems. Tiny sooty particles can move through the mother’s bloodstream to the placenta and affect the baby’s lung development, raising the risk of lifelong breathing issues like asthma.

Pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and PAHs, which come from things like burning food, coal, oil, or gas, can disrupt how organs form. This can increase the chances of conditions like congenital heart defects, neural tube problems, or cleft palate. Some studies also suggest that heavy exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may raise the risk of autism spectrum disorder.

Air pollution can also push the mother’s blood pressure up, increasing the risk of preeclampsia, which is dangerous for both mom and baby.

Early detection of autism in the first 1,000 days of life—covering pregnancy and the first three years—is crucial as the brain develops rapidly in this crucial window, according to Dr Shefali Gulati, Professor, Department of Pediatric Neurology at AIIMS.

During a recent media interaction, Dr Gulati noted that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly identified in children worldwide. She stressed that early detection and timely intervention can significantly improve developmental outcomes.

“Early detection is crucial because the brain develops rapidly in the first 1000 days, including pregnancy and the first three years of life. Maximum neuronal connections are formed during this period. If autism is diagnosed early, intervention is more effective. Global data support that early intervention leads to better outcomes,” the pediatric neurologist said.

What Is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which social interaction and communication are affected, and it can be seen in the early developmental period.

Dr Gulati said that the disorder can now “be identified even in the first year of life. Tools have been developed for children aged 1 to 18 months. At 12 months, sensitivity is about 90 per cent, and at 18 months, it is about 98.7 per cent,” Dr Gulati said.

Further, the expert explained that autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that not everyone has all the symptoms.

Every symptom or sign will not be present in every individual, she said, adding that the severity also differs from person to person. So, two children can be completely different. The symptoms seen in autism, such as difficulties in social interaction, can also be present in neurotypical individuals.

“Earlier, terms like 'normal' and ‘abnormal' were used, which were later replaced with ‘neurotypical’ and ‘special needs’. Now, the concept is neurodiversity. Just like our five fingers are different, individuals also fall along a spectrum. This means we accept that variation as part of normalcy,” the neurologist said.

Autism: What Are The Red flags

The expert clarified that autism is diagnosed clinically through developmental history and behavioral observation, and does not require complex laboratory tests.

Parents, she said, play a key role in identifying early developmental delays. Red flags include:

• lack of response to name,
• absence of meaningful words by 15–16 months,
• failure to form two-word phrases by 24 months

The expert noted that children with autism may prefer to play alone rather than with others. It also “involves restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests, such as moving hands repeatedly, flapping hands, or toe walking”.

“What happens is that these children may be preoccupied or super-focused on a particular part of a toy,” she said.

Dr Gulati pointed to a combination of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors associated with autism, including air pollution, pesticide exposure, parental age, and early screen exposure.

Autism: Why Prevalence Is Rising

Highlighting global data, Dr Gulati said autism prevalence has risen sharply, with CDC estimates suggesting about 1 in 31 children affected in recent reports, while WHO estimates indicate about 1 in 100 globally.

She noted that while improved screening and awareness contribute significantly to rising diagnoses, there is also evidence of a genuine increase in cases. Autism prevalence is higher in boys, though rates in girls are increasing.

The neurologist cautioned that autism is a multifactorial condition with no single identifiable cause. Causes include genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors.

• Genetic factors show high concordance in identical twins (60–90 per cent). Recurrence risk varies depending on family history.
• Environmental factors are significant, including air pollution, pesticide exposure, and parental age. Advanced paternal and maternal age may affect genetic expression.
• Epigenetics—how genes are expressed based on environment—may play a key role.
• Screen time is another factor. Studies show that higher and earlier screen exposure is associated with increased autism risk.

“The goal is not the label, but helping the child reach their full potential through timely and appropriate care,” she said.

With advancements, early detection tools are improving, including video-based assessments and AI-supported tools.

Prevention strategies include primary, secondary, tertiary, and primordial levels. Currently, there is no clear primary prevention, so early diagnosis (secondary prevention) is key, the expert said.