Identifiable facilitators and challenges to exclusive breastfeeding in Indian communities influences variations in breastfeeding practices. Health care providers are the first person to encourage breastfeeding initiation while support networks such as mother-in-laws, grandmothers, or cousins motivate mothers to continue breastfeeding. A strong support network exists among community members, or villagers, which serve edible items for breastfeeding mothers such as gum laddu, semolina, sugar, ghee, cress seeds and coconut sweets to aid in production of milk. “Top feeding” is a native practice where infants are commonly introduced with water and other water-based fluids before six months of age. 

 

Challenges exist when “top feeding” does not include colostrum and cultivates administering gutti (mixture of dried dates, almonds, herbs, honey, and gripe water), honey, water, powdered milk, sugar, cow/goat milk, timtim, and porridge for first three days in replacement of colostrum. Mothers may also feed infants gripe water for belief of digestive powers, sleeping comfort, and promotion of health. 

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A traditional practice in administering two drops honey and sugar water to soothe crying infants, while a mixture of gutti and breastmilk is offered to promote healthy weight gain. Rubbing the gold of Mangalasutra (wedding chain) into water and having the infant feed on gold water is culturally believed to aid in intelligence and calm demeanor. Healthcare professionals serve to provide corroborated methods to educate Indian-American breastfeeding populations.