The World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August (1st to 7th) and this is observed in more than 170 countries around the world. The simple act of breastfeeding has been discovered to be a key to the sustainable development of any nation because well breastfed infants grow up to be healthy adults who can contribute productively to their society. Breastfeeding is the healthiest start to life and is one of the simplest ways to help children survive. Breast milk contains anti-infective properties which protect the child from opportunistic infections and it provides not just a part of but all the nutrition that a child needs in the first six months of life.
Many women initially set out to breastfeed but are usually discouraged during the whole process and lose the hope of breastfeeding altogether. Husbands and partners have the responsibility of encouraging their wives and providing them with all the support they need during this period. Having gone through the very rigorous process of childbirth, the mother is stressed already and adding breastfeeding can be physically and emotionally straining. Fathers can be involved with the baby in other ways so that the caring is shared, they can also help to reduce the household chores so that their partner can feed the baby for as long and as often as they need.
Health facilities and health care providers also have a role to play. Lactation consultants should be available at hospitals to assist mothers with their questions and concerns about breastfeeding. Midwives and nurses should assist new mothers in initiating breastfeeding and also teach the mother about the different breastfeeding positions and help her choose that which is comfortable for her. All these can help a mother overcome breastfeeding challenges.
Overall as a society, we can do a lot to support breastfeeding mothers. While the act of breastfeeding may seem natural, it can be difficult for some mothers and not every mother can cope. Some women suffer at the hands of others just because they need to nurse their infants. Snide remarks and disapproving looks are definitely not helpful. Whether at the mall, on the bus, at the pool or at the park, mothers have a legal right to breastfeed their children anywhere. Accepting breastfeeding as the normal way for women to feed their babies goes a long way in creating a safe, secure and supportive environment for women to breastfeed.
For working mothers, they may have a difficult time transitioning after their maternity leave is up but employers and colleagues can help by providing a breastfeeding friendly environment through the creation of clean and private spaces at work where a woman can nurse or express her milk when she wants to.
Laditan Oluwalonimi, lonimee@gmail.com
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