Mum to Devi, who will turn two in November, actor Bipasha Basu says being a mother is the “best job ever” and breastfeeding, “the most amazing feeling”. For World Breastfeeding Week, talking to us about her breastfeeding journey, Basu says, “It builds a beautiful bond between mother and child, since at the time of feeding, you are one unit. My breast milk started immediately, so Devi was given the breast right after she was born, while the operation continued.”

Marvelling at infants’ ability to start suckling right after birth, Basu credits her doula, Sanam, for teaching her the right way to breastfeed, adding that she was very emotional when she couldn’t breastfeed Devi for the first three months due to holes in her daughter’s heart.

“We had to wait till the third month and had her procedure. Post-op, she immediately started taking on to the breast so strongly. It was magical. I had decided to breastfeed her for a year but I continued for 18 months. It was easy to wean her off as she’s a good kid,” says Basu, adding that she went through an emotional roller-coaster while weaning Devi off.

A staunch campaigner for breastfeeding, the actor hopes that the process can be normalized and made a more common part of life for mums.

“It has to happen because when you give birth to a baby, you need to give them nutrition at the right time. And that should not stop your life. Many women have to work, go out and do things and that doesn’t mean your child cannot not be directly breastfed,” says the 45-year-old, adding that while expressing is an alternative, it can be “tedious”.

The actor adds, “The right nutrition is best when you give direct feed. It is the most normal thing in the world to have babies and to feed them. It should not be seen as offensive anywhere. In fact, we need provisions in place for women to make sure there’s enough space in any environment to feed a baby. I have not faced any stigma as I haven’t breastfed in public, but sadly in our country, we are still not that evolved that we would be okay with a woman breastfeeding in open.”