International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 9 Issue 2, Mar-Apr 2025 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Nutrition of Lactating Women

Dr. Sandhya Ayaskar
Associate Professor, Department of Home Science, Mahila Kala Mahavidyalaya, Beed, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Dr. Sandhya

The average meal pattern of the Lactating respondents was three Ayaskar "Nutrition of Lactating
meal pattern very few from rural & urban area consumed and mormy Women" Published
food 4 snacks in their diet, In lactation period only plan preparation in International
used and special foods like lactating women, Diet, Nutrition. Journal of Trend in
Scientific Research
Lactation requires frequent eating however they did not have mid- and Development
morning food or snacks. As the lactation stage is very important, (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-
because lactation represent a drain on maternal body composition. 6470, Volume-9 | IJTSRD78582
The required calories and other nutrients is therefore frater during Issue-2, April 2025,
lactation, hence much emphasis gives in providing adequately pp.844-849, URL:
www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd78582.pdf
nutrition diet during lactation, Nutrition during lactation is important
for her own health and that of her offspring. Copyright © 2025 by author (s) and
Lactation requires frequent eating however they did not have International Journal of Trend in
midmorning food or snacks. As the lactation stage is very important, Scientific Research and Development
because lactation represent a drain on maternal body composition. Journal. This is an
Open Access article
The requited calories and other nutrients is therefore frater during
distributed under the
lactation hence much emphasis gives in providing adequately terms of the Creative Commons
nutrition diet during lactation. Nutrition during lactation is important Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
for her own health and that of her offspring. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

KEYWORDS: lactating woman, Diet, Nutrition, lactation, Nutrient

INTRODUCTION
A lactating woman is a female who is producing and Malnutrition in its serious form is found among
secreting milk from her mammary glands, typically to children, especially new born and infants in the
Norwich her infant lactation is the natural process of weaning and post weaning periods especially in rural
milk production in the mammary glands, which is areas. Nearly 75 percent of in front mortality in India
hormonally drive. is directly attributed to low nutritional levels of
pregnant mothers malnutrition is the direct cause of
Lactating women are considered as nutritionally
vulnerable. A section of the population owing to the death of about 500000 children every year.
inevitable loss due to milk secretion, lactation Malnutrition is undoubtedly the biggest public health
understandably represents a drain on maternal body problem in our country today. The economic
composition. It involves Considerable nutrient condition of a vast majority of our population is so
expenditure for the mother. poor that they are in no position to afford even the
least expensive balanced diets.
A section of the population owing to the inevitable
loss due to milk secretion, lactation understandably Objectives:-
represents a drain on maternal body composition. It 1. TO evaluate the health & nutritional status of
involves considerable nutrient expenditure for the pregnant and lactating women by anthropomchic
mother. measurements and clinical examination.
2. To evaluate the food and nutrient intake of the
The estimated calorie expenditure for lactation varies
selected pregnant and lactating women.
from 400-700 k call day (RDA 1984). Mild secretion
requires energy over and above mothers own energy Research methodology -
requirements. This additional body fat store causes a The present study was conducted “Nutritional &
great strain in the maternal nutritional status during health status of pregnant and lactating women in
lactation. Hence much emphasis lies in providing Parbhani Taluka
adequately nutrition diet during lactation.

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For this study the total 9 villages. were randomly A seven day dietary reward was reported by pat gam
selected from Parbhani Taluka A random Sample of et. At (1981) in a longitudinal study on 27 lactating
300 pregnant and 200 lactating women were selected, women for a period of 15 months of lactation. The
lactating women who have 15 days to 4 month baby intake of energy was found to be 926, 10.73, 9.06,
and it was stratified on the basis of women's SES, 8.75, 9.26 and 10.8 mg / 24hg at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15
living area and education moths of lactation respectively. Data showed that
The data pertaining the study were collected by there was an increase in energy intake (10.73 mg / 24
personal interview the respondents, their family h) at third month of lactation and a gradual fall in the
members, Visiting their homes or hospitals. Further energy intake up to nine months of lactation. The
following 24 hours recall method and weighament reduction in energy intake form third to nine months
method with questionnaire for dietary and nutritional of lactation was attributed to the profound alternation
intake by taking Anthropometric measurements. Was in metabolism during lactation.
performed as per standard procedures. Dietary intake of 31 pregnant and lactating months of
Review of Literature:- Haryana region was assessed by Gupta and Sharma
National institute of nutrition (1980) reported a (1980). It was reported that the dietary intake
significant difference in the dietary intake of all throughout the reproductive period was
nutrients between lactating women attending unsatisfactory. Green leafs vegetables and animal
immunization clinic and those attending general foods were rarely consumed by months. However
outpatient department (OPD). The mean values of only calcium and riboflavin intakes were adequate
intake of proteins, calories, worn, thiamine and due to high milk consumption. Average contribution
riboflavin by the women attending immunization of energy from fat was observed to be percent.
OPD were 53.7 g., 1821 kcal, 17 mg, 0.95 mg and The results of a study, carried out by Bhatt et. al
0.63 respectively. The respective values for the (1983) in Hisser district, indicated that the lactating
corresponding nutrient were 26.3g. 1110 keel. 12 mg, women were found to be consuming foods like cumin
0.53 mg and 0.39 mg for women attending general seeds, jiggery milk, ghee etc. as special foods to
OPD. increase milk secretion during lactation.
A total of 95 lactating vegetarian women from urban A study, carried out by Pande and Rrohini Devi
and rural area of vanes were evaluated for the intake (1983) on the tributes of kinuat area, revealed that the
of diet. The intake of diet during the first three consumption of oily and fried food was completely
months of locational period was obtained by recall avoided by the lactating women and that was
method. The results revealed that the intake of prevalent among the lactation women.
calories and nutrients by the lactating women were
Result and Discussion
higher in urban area then in rural areas (PL 0.05). The
The study entitled "Nutritional and Health status of
diets of lactating women in both urban and rural area
pregnant and lactating women was carried out in
were noticed to be deficient in calories, calcium,
Parbhani Taluka and District of Marathwada region
rational, niacin and acerbic acid as compared to the
of Maharashtra state. The collected data was pooled
recommendations of Indian council of medical
analyzed, tabulated and discussed with different
research only 31.5 percent of lactating women were
heads.
consuming calories at more than 80 percent adequacy
level according to the recommendation of ICMR Background information of the selected lactating
while the percent of lactating women consuming women depending then Socio-economic status
protein, iron and thiamine at the level of adequacy (SES)
was 79, 87.5 and 87.5 respectively. It is clear from the table that (57 %.) of the
respondents from rural area were from middle sirocco
The retinal intake was more than 80 percent of
Economy status. Smiley, 42 percent respondent were
adequacy level in the diet of 13 percent of lactating
from low SES and only one percent respondents were
women while 62 percent of the lactating women were
from high SES. On the other hand the majority of the
consuming rational which was less than 40 percent of
respondents from it is
ICMR recommendations supply of calcium,
riboflavin niacin and ascorbic acid was found to be * Urban area were from high SES, 40 percent
adequate in meeting the recommend aloneness to respondents were from middle SES and very few
more than 80 percent level in the diets of 56, 68, 42 (8%) of them were from low SES. From this results it
and 35 percent of lactating women respectively is clear that low SES group respondents were more in
(Bhatia etal 1981) rural area, while the respondents from high SES
groups were more in urban areas.

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Background information of the selected lactating women depending on the basis of their living area
Area Total
Sr. No. Particulars
Rural (103) Urban (97) frequency
1. SES group
Low 43(42) 08(08) 31
Middle 59(57) 39(40) 98
High 01(01) 50(52) 51
2. Type of Family
Joint 41(40) 39(40) 80
Nuclear 62(60) 58(60) 120
3. Religion
Hindu 64(62) 65(67) 129
Muslim 39(38) 32(33) 71
4. Educational level
Non-literate 20(19) 05(05) 25
Primary 17(16) 06(06) 23
Middle school 32(31) 08(08) 40
High school 29(28) 25(26) 54
College 05(05) 53(55) 58
5. Occupation
Home makers 97(94) 43(44) 140
Labourer 04(04) 02(02) 06
Servicelbusiness S 01(01) 39(40) 40
Skilled worker 01(01) 06(06) 07
Semi professional Nil Nil Nil
Profesional Nil 07(08) 07
6. Food Habit
Vegetarian 64(62) 55(51) 119
Non vegetarian 39(38) 42(43) 81
7. Age in years
Below 20 years 12(12) 18(19) 30
20-35 91(88) 79(81) 170
Dietary intake of the selected lactating women depending on their socio-Economic status (SSS)
From the result of the table, it is clear that the majority of the respondents. (55%) From low SES were habituated
of Taking rot, and chutney in their breakfast. The Similar trend was found in middle SES group. Thirty three the
higher percepts respondents from high SES group. Were habituated of taking poha, upama usually in their
breakfast.
The respondents up to 22 percent of the high SES group were found to consume milk during mid-morning. In
comparison only 4 per-cent of respondents consumed milk in case of low SES group. The higher percent of the
women were found that not consuming any food during mid-morning irrespective of their SES. Seventy the
higher percent of the respondents were found to consume chapati and dhal during lunch in case of high SES
group. The similar trend was found in other two groups. In comparison 8 the higher percent of the respondents
were found to con-suming chapati, dhal, curry and rice in case of high SES group. Only 2 percent respondents
were consumed them from low SES group.
None of the respondents from all groups were found not consuming any fruits in snacks time, only 4 and 2
percent respondents were found to consuming milk in snack time from high and middle SES group but more of
the respondents were found to be consuming it

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Dietary intake of the selected lactating women depending on their SES
SES Total
Sr. No. Particulars
Low (51) Middle (98) High (51) frequency
1 Break fast
Tea/Milk Nil 15(15) 07(14) 22
Tea with breadl 05(10) 10(10) 04(08) 19
roti/biscuitsheera 06(12) 10(10) 15(29) 31
boiled egg/omlet 03(06) 04(04) 05(10) 12
pohalupamalusal 09(18) 22(22) 17(33) 48
roti Chutney/subji 28(55) 37(38) 03(06) 68
2 Mid morning
Milk 02(04) 07(07) 11(22) 20
Nil 49(96) 91(93) 40(78) 180
3 Lunch
Chapati Dhal 15(29) 46(47) 36(70) 97
Cbapati Curry Nil Nil Nil Nil
Cbapati dhal curry nee 01(02) 03(03) 04(08) 08
Roti Dbal 35(69) 49(50) 11(22) 95
Snacks
4 Fruit Nil Nil Nil Nil
Milk Nil 02(02) 02(04) 04
Nil 51(100) 96(98) 49(96) 196
In case of the type of family a majority (60%) the respondents of the rural areas were belonging to nuclear type
of family and the remaining 40 percent respondents were belonging to joint type of family. The similar
observation were found in urban areas sample.
On the whole it is said that more percent of the respondents from rural and urban area found to be nuclear type
of family, as today the trend of nuclear families has been increasing.
In case of religion, 62 percent respondents from the rural area belonged to Hindu religion and 38 percent
respondents belonged to Muslim religion, whereas from the urban area, 67 percent respondents belonged to
Hindu religion and the remaining 33 percent belonged to Muslim religion.
In case of educational level of the respondents it is clear that from a majority (31%) of them were found as
middle school educated 28 per-cent were upto high school educated, 19 percent become non-literate, 16 percent
women found up to primary educated and only 5 percent women were college educated in rural area.
Among the urban area a majority of the respondents were found to be college educated, 26 percent high school
educated, 8 percent middle school educated, 6 percent primary school educated and the remaining 5 percent were
found to be non-literate.
On the whole it is concluded that more respondents from urban area were college educated and only 5 percent
were non-literate. On the other hand, only one percent respondents from rural were college educated and most of
them were only middle school educated.
In case of respondents occupation a majority (94%) the respondents from rural area were homemakers, 4 percent
respondents were labor & only one percent respondents were in service business & skilled worker. On the other
hand, 44 percent respondents from urban area were homemakers, 40 percent were in service/business, 6 percent
were skilled worker, & 8 percent occupied in profession.
Hence a majority of the respondents from rural area were home makers, whereas more respondents were
occupied in service from urban areas. Nobody from rural area was occupied in a professional and
semiprofessional jobs.
A majority of (62%) the rural respondents were vegetarian and remaining 38 percent were non vegetarian.
Whereas from the urban area of the respondents were vegetarian and the remaining 43 percent were non
vegetarian

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SES Total
Sr. No. Particulars
Low (51) Middle High (51) Frequency
Dinner
Roti Chapati Milk 13(25) 28(29) 34(67) 75
5
Khichadi 08(16) 10(10) 07(14) 25
Roti Dhal subji 30(59) 60(61) 10(19) 100
Figures in parenthesis indicates percentage from low SES group. Higher percents women were found that not
consuming any food during snack time as lactation requires frequent eating, additional dietary requirements also
fulfilled. More consumption of calcium also essential to nourish their infants.
The higher (59%) percent of the respondents were noticed to be consuming roti, dhal & subji during dinner from
low SES groups.
The similar trend was found in middle SES group. A majority (67 %) of the respondent from high SES group
were observed to be taking roti/chapati & milk during dinner. Some of the respondents were found to be taking
khichadi irrespective of their SES group.
In conclusion it can be said that, majority of the selected lactating women were following three meal pattern.
Lactation requires frequent eating however they did not have mid morning food or snacks. As the lactation stage
is very important, because lactation represent a drain on maternal body composition. It involves considerable
nutrient expenditure for the mother. The required calories and other nutrients is there fore greater during
lactation hence much emphasis gives in providing adequately nutritious diet during lactation. The recommended
dietary allowances of lactating women is more than non lactating women. Nutrition during lactation is important
for her own health and that of her off-spring. Satisfactory performance of lactation is influenced by the intake of
adequate diet.
Adequacy of daily nutrient intake by the selected lactating women on the basis of socio economic status
(SES)
Table 21 and Fig 3 focus on mean percent adequacy of daily nutrient intake by the selected lactating women on
the basis of SES. It was found that the mean percent nutrient intake of the lactating women in the low SES was
low, energy intake was 54.50 adequae, while it was better for both middle (63.00%) and high (63.49%) SES
group. The similar trend was seen for the intake of protein, calcium and iron. There was no difference in the
intake of thiamine, riboflavine, niacin and vit. C. but slight difference in the intake of carotene. It was higher in
high income group (87%) than middle (79%) and low (77%) SES group respectively. It may be due to avoidence
of specific food items like oily and fried foods, citrus fruits, banana, curd, guava from their diet, only specific
food like, red gram dhal, ghee, milk and jawar roti consumed.
Table No. 21 Adequacy of dally nutrient intake by the selected lactat-ing women on the basis of socio
economic status (SES)
Mean percent of nutrient intake
Sr. No. Nutrient
Low Middle High
1 Protein 58.93 60.54 63.49
2 Energy 54.50 63.00 68.41
3 Calcium 50.00 72.00 80.00
4 Iron 45.03 54.85 56.40
5 Carotenc 77.00 79.00 87.00
6 Thiamine 56.05 60.04 61.47
7 Riboflavin 51.62 55.00 57.93
8 Niacin 70.00 74.00 80.80
9 Vit.C 58.00 62.00 60.50
These results are in accordance with Bhatia et al, (1981). Vijayalakshmi et al (1988) reported that the food &
nutrient intake of low income mothers indicated an inadequacy with respect to all the foods and nutrients
compared with that of middle and high income group mothers.
Conclusion
It is concluded that majority of the lactating women pattern was followed by women. only pluam
from low and middle SES group were from rural and preparation such as plain dal and milk way used and
high SES group were from Urban area Three meal avoided spicy, hot food.

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and Agarwal, K.N. (1981) Dietary intake of

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