As
the
world
celebrates
Mother's
Day,
actor
Kareena
Kapoor
Khan
gave
a
special
mention
to
all
the
fathers,
including
husband
Saif
Ali
Khan,
for
their
unwavering
support.
The
37-year-old
actor,
who
welcomed
her
first
child,Taimur
(now
17
months)
with
Saif
in
2016,
said
a
father's
role
is
equally
important
as
that
of
the
mother's
in
raising
the
child.
"I
chose
to
celebrate
Mother's
Day
with
you
all.
But
my
son
is
celebrating
Father's
Day
with
Saif
and
it
has
been
possible
because
of
that
support," Kareena
said
at
panel
discussion
on
UNICEF's
#EveryChildAlive
campaign
here.
"I'd
really
like
to
thank
Saif...
I
was
extremely
exhausted
after
childbirth.
First
thing
is
you
want
to
put
your
child
on
your
chest,
your
breasts...
To
give
warmth
to
the
child.
With
my
eyes
half-shut,
I
would
say,
'Saif,
put
Taimur
on
your
chest.
Give
him
that
kangaroo
love'.
"When
the
mother
is
recuperating
from
childbirth,
the
father
must
step
in.
Today,
we
must
champion
those
fathers.
A
shout-out
to
them
as
their
help
is
important
in
the
well
being
of
the
child,"
she
added.
The
actor,
who
is
UNICEF's
Goodwill
Advocate,
said
the
couple
ensures
that
their
son
is
taken
care
of
by
either
of
them.
"We
need
to
share
the
load.
Of
course,
what
the
mother
can
do
the
father
can't.
But
then
there
are
a
lot
of
things
a
father
can
bring
to
the
table
that
a
mother
can't.
Taimur
loves
his
time
with
his
mother.
I
spoil
him
with
the
warmth
and
the
cuddles.
His
father
is
trying
to
teach
him
cricket.
"So,
there
are
times
when
we
both
try
to
balance
it
out.
That
when
he's
not
around,
I
am.
If
I'm
doing
a
film,
Saif
tries
to
be
at
home.
These
days,
I've
kind
of
taken
it
up
as
he's
been
out
shooting
for
three-and-a-half
months
to
be
there
for
Taimur."
Kareena
said
she
is
fortunate
to
have
a
"great
support
system"
in
her
family
and
team
who
help
her
round-the-clock
in
raising
Taimur.
"In
nine
months
of
pregnancy,
there
were
two
aspects
that
I
realised
are
most
important
for
the
mother
and
the
newborn.
First,
being
in
a
safe
pair
of
hands
at
the
time
of
birth
and
after.
A
support
team
-
a
doctor,
nurse,
a
midwife,
etc.
I
was
blessed
to
have
them.
It
is
not
a
privilege,
it's
a
right
-
no
matter
who
the
mother
is
-
to
be
in
a
safe
pair
of
hands.
Second,
a
husband's
support
to
the
wife.
"I
have
a
good
set
of
helpers.
It
would
be
unfair
not
to
mention
them.
I
would
like
to
thank
them.
And
grandparents
are
always
to
the
rescue,"
she
said.
The
actor
asserted
"exclusive
breastfeeding
for
six
months"
for
a
newborn
to
boost
his/her
immunity.
Sharing
her
experience,
the
actor
said,
"I
was
nervous
and
scared
as
how
to
get
to
Taimur
to
do
that.
I
was
worried
if
the
baby
will
latch
on
or
not.
With
the
support
of
Saif,
my
mother
and
my
lactation
doctor...
"With
their
guidance,
the
experience
became
easy
and
joyful.
It
was
only
possible
through
the
support
system.
It's
so
important
at
that
stage
for
the
mother
to
be
empowered
rather
than
just
laying
out
on
the
table."
Kareena
said
"love
is
just
the
foundation"
for
a
child's
growth
but,
"We
need
to
build
on
it
to
give
our
newborns
a
better
and
healthier
future."
Also
on
the
panel
were
-
ASHA
health
worker
from
Uttar
Pradesh,
Uma
Devi,
a
father
from
West
Bengal
Sheikh
Mohammad
Ali,
Dr
Omkar
Hota
from
Odisha
with
Chief
of
Health
UNICEF
India,
Dr
Gagan
Gupta.
EveryChildALIVE
is
UNICEF's
global
signature
campaign
to
demand
and
deliver
affordable,quality
healthcare
solutions
for
every
mother
and
newborn.