POSITIVE Parenting

Breastfeeding is just as relevant today as it has ever been. Especially in times of economic hardship it is important to have infant milk that is readily available, nutritious and inexpensive. What could be better than breast milk?

In Jamaica, as in other parts of the world, the prevalence of breastfeeding is much lower than it should be. This is related to socio-cultural and other factors such as early return to work as well as the availability and the seeming attraction of formula/bottle feeding. The World Health Organisation (WHO) encourages the promotion of breastfeeding and discouragement of the promotion of artificial substitutes as part of its strategy to achieve health for all.

Advantages of breastfeeding

Breast milk contains antibodies, which help the baby to fight infection and also helps the immune system to develop. The protein is more easily digested than cows' milk, which is found in most infant formulas.

Breast milk has higher amounts of lactose, and other nutrients important for brain development and also micro-nutrients in optimal quantities for human babies.

Although minerals such as iron may be found in lower quantities, there is more complete absorption from breast milk.

Breastfeeding is particularly important in the prevention of and speedy recovery from diarrhoeal diseases (gastroenteritis).

Exclusive breastfeeding is inexpensive as it avoids the need to buy formula and sterilise bottles. The mother just needs to eat healthily.

One cannot also overlook the mutual psychological benefits of mother-child bonding and interaction from breastfeeding.

Exclusive breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding, based on the WHO definition, refers to the practice of feeding only breast milk (including expressed breast milk (EBM)) and allows for the baby to receive vitamin supplements and medicine where prescribed. Water, milk substitutes, other liquids and solid foods are excluded.

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life for healthy term infants, after which, they should be introduced to nutrient-rich, solid foods containing iron with continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.

Advice for mothers who work away from home

Breastfeed exclusively and frequently for the entire maternity leave. In Jamaica, this is usually for two months with pay and you may be able to get additional leave with partial or no pay. The first two months of breastfeeding are the most important.

Take your baby to work with you if possible (a few workplaces have day care facilities) or use a day-care near to work.

If you work near to home, you may be able to take breaks to go home to feed your baby.

Do not start other feeds before you really have to - wait until the week or so before you go back to work. It is not necessary to use a bottle at all. Even very small babies can feed from a cup.

Continue to breastfeed at nights, early mornings and on weekends when you are at home.

Learn to express your breast milk and leave it for the caregiver to give the baby while you are at work.

Expressing breast milk

Give yourself enough time to express your breast milk in a relaxed way.

Express as much as you can into a clean cup or jar.

Leave the covered EBM in a cool place, preferably a refrigerator.

Do not boil or reheat your EBM. Heat destroys many anti-ineffective properties.

Breastfeed your baby after expressing, he/she will get the nutrient-rich hind milk that you were unable to express.

With the rising costs of food, including infant formula, and the continued prevalence of diarrhoeal disease in developing countries, breastfeeding continue to be an important factor in the nutrition of your young child.

Dr Christine Hammond Gabbadon is a paediatrician

'The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life for healthy term infants.'