Breastfeeding Education is for Everyone.

Dear LinkedIn Neighbour,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. (This may sound cliché but I really mean it.) I hope you are doing well, staying healthy and nourished.?

My message for you today may seem a bit controversial- it is by no means a breast is best / fed is best debate. Just my honest opinion about why we need a mindset change about breastfeeding (By now, I’m sure you are aware that this is an underlying theme of the Health & Nourished newsletter.)

I say we need a mindset shift as a society because for the most part, when we think of baby food, breastmilk is not the default that comes to mind. Rather, infant formula and processed weaning foods is the picture we perceive. And this is not entirely our fault- we have consumed tons of advertising from the key players in this multi-billion dollar industry over the years. Our brains have basically been hardwired to think this way and it serves the capitalist agenda of Big Nutrition.

Don’t get me wrong- breast milk substitutes (formula) are a wonderful invention and I am grateful that there are options for feeding babies when lactation fails. However, without even trying sometimes, as a society we tend to scoff at the idea of exclusive breastfeeding and sometimes ridicule mothers who breastfeed their children beyond 1 year.? We have no problem with feeding these toddlers follow on milk, another marketing strategy - which is a clear irony.

As Abhijit Naskar rightly puts it, “The whole human world is born from the womb of mothers, and if we can’t make the motherly act of breastfeeding free from stigma in such a world, then it’s an insult to our very existence as a species.”

My opinion is that just as the marketing of infant nutrition is far reaching, lactation education is for everyone. That includes business owners, families, policy makers and governments, religious institutions, health workers and? regular people like you and me. Here are a few reasons why I say so.?

Baby’s first vaccination

From the first day a baby is born and a mother breastfeeds, important antibodies and other factors are transferred through breast milk to the newborn. This first milk or colostrum is like a baby’s first vaccination. Babies passively receive protection from many diseases and infections through this liquid gold and mothers should be supported after birth to provide this protection that every baby deserves. For preterm babies this transferred immunity is priceless.

A business case for breastfeeding

Business owners may worry about the potential nuisance and distraction that a nursing mother would cause if she were allowed to express breastmilk at work. However, imagine the discomfort and embarrassment of having a mother with engorgement and “leaky boobs” at work. Some studies have shown that supporting mothers to breastfeed by allowing them to express at work may increase productivity and employee retention. Mothers when supported are likely to have less days of absenteeism due to their babies being ill.

Breastfeeding in emergency situations

Breastfeeding is an essential skill to have in the event of national emergencies, natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Breastmilk is readily available and convenient especially in such situations when clean water may not be available and access to essential services is limited.?

Recently, during the devastating earthquakes that hit parts of Syria and Turkey, an incredible story unfolded about how a mother and her newborn survived 90 hours underneath the rubble before being rescued. Necla Camuz breastfed her baby Yagiz while they were trapped in the rubble. Her baby’s survival had given her hope and kept her going.?

Reducing long term risk of NCDs

There are many short and? long-term benefits of breastfeeding. However, I am especially grateful for the opportunity to have breastfed both of my children because I am aware of the reduced risk of obesity and diabetes associated with breastfeeding. Breastfed babies also have greater protection against diseases like asthma.

Mothers are not left out in all of this. Did you know that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer??

These reasons are by no means exhaustive of the benefits of breastfeeding. There is still a lot that researchers are discovering about the? miracle food - breastmilk.

As an advocate for breastfeeding, you can understand why I am drawn to the work of organizations like Leaf Africa that aims to promote effective breastfeeding and lactation education in Sub-Saharan Africa. In their latest series, the IBCLC led social impact organization is providing? accessible breastfeeding education and support. This is in the form of live, virtual Antenatal Breastfeeding classes and Postnatal Q&A sessions.

You can support this initiative by registering for these sessions yourself or sharing the links below with friends and family who might benefit from the webinars.?

Antenatal Breastfeeding Classes Registration

Posnatal Q&A Registration

I hope you are convinced that breastfeeding is only natural, breastfeeding education is for everyone and mothers deserve to be supported to provide this nourishment for their babies. Let me know what you think about this? newsletter issue. I am happy to discuss further.

Warmly,

Naadu Hazel,

Certified Breastfeeding Specialist