SawShin May, Narinjara News, 31 October 2024

In Arakan State, ongoing fighting has left manybreastfeeding mothers, including displaced women, unable to produce enough milkfor their babies due to poor nutrition.

 Mothers in the areastruggle to find adequate food, making it impossible to buy milk powder,protein supplements, or other essentials for their children.

"Some moms want to breastfeed but are too weak to makeenough milk. If this goes on, they could become malnourished and face serioushealth issues," said an aid worker helping nursing mothers in ThandweTownship.

Over 100breastfeeding mothers in Thandwe Township's IDP camps face these challenges.While the number of local mothers with similar problems is unknown, thesituation is clearly dire.

 Ma Hla Thein Nu fromMinbya Township told Narinjara News that ongoing conflict and lack of jobs haveleft families unable to eat well. This has led to poor nutrition and not enoughbreast milk for babies.

"We can only cook small fish with turmeric. Oil coststoo much to fry anything. My child is sick and won't eat much rice, so I keepbreastfeeding. Afterwards, I feel weak and don't want to do anything. SometimesI crave a snack, but I can't afford it," she said.

Newborns need breast milk,and new moms need good food to make it. But MaThan Than Nu, a mother from DaingPon Village in Myebon Township, said she's struggling because she can't buy theright food.

"To feed my baby, I need to eat well, but I can't getenough good food. My baby is just 18 days old, and I'm not making much milk.After giving birth, I'm so tired. I want to eat better so I can take care of mychild," she explained.

Ma Than ThanNu's husband used to do manual labor but now drives a rickshaw to support thefamily. She said they don't earn enough due to high prices and few job options.

 A mother with a9-month-old from Maungdaw Township said she's having a hard time as she fleesthe fighting. She can't work or earn money, so she can't buy milk powder ormedicine for her children, and she struggles to feed herself.

"These days, I'm not making enough breast milk, and mybaby isn't getting proper food. My 9-month-old looks smaller, like a6-month-old. Of all our troubles, being a mom hurts the I can't buy milkpowder, and even if I can't get medicine or clothes, I worry about raising them

Breast milkis the main food babies need to grow well in their first six months.It comes in three types: first milk, middle milk, andregular milk.

First milk is made during pregnancy. It's thick, yellow,and full of protein, vitamins that need fat, minerals, and things that help ababy fight off sickness.

 Middle milk, made from 2 to 5 days after birth up to 2weeks later, is a mix of first and regular milk. It has more calories, fat,sugar, and vitamins that mix with water.

 Regular milk, made about 10 to 15 days after birth, haseverything a baby needs. It's 90% water and has sugars, proteins, fats,vitamins, minerals, and germ fighters, making it key for keeping babies healthyas they grow.