Protecting breastfeeding needs to be given a whole-of-society support to ensure that we have work and social environments that are breastfeeding-friendly. Photo: Star

The theme of this year's World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7) is "Protecting Breastfeeding, a Shared Responsibility". In the midst of the global pandemic, with our heightened awareness of the importance of health and robust immunity, it is vital to remember that breast milk is the optimum food for babies. Breastfeeding is the recommended, ideal, natural, and most sustainable food for the healthy growth and development of infants and young children. The recommendation for infants of zero to six months is to breastfeed them exclusively, until the age of two years. That is, to only feed on breast milk and nothing else.  

The key to successful breastfeeding is that mothers are empowered to feed their babies anytime and anywhere, which means they need broad-based support across society. Mothers can face significant roadblocks to breastfeeding their babies even when this delicate process goes well for them after the birth of their baby. Given the many stressors on households, sometimes mothers find themselves in hostile home environments and social circles which harbour negative attitudes towards breastfeeding. The need to earn and return to work puts pressure on working mothers to give up breastfeeding. This is why protecting breastfeeding needs to be given a whole-of-society support to ensure that we have work and social environments that are breastfeeding-friendly. How do we do this? It starts with understanding the barriers to breastfeeding that many mothers face.

Partners can help mothers with the domestic workload as well as with the caring of the baby. Being hands-on with activities such as baby bathing, burping, talking, singing, and playing can be a great form of support. Doing grocery shopping, helping with food preparation, and cleaning the house also creates a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers. Raising children is never supposed to be a one-person job and partners of new mothers have a major impact on creating a home environment conducive to breastfeeding for the optimum health of both the mother and the baby. When a partner is supportive, mothers are more likely to breastfeed, particularly if they act as her advocate when she experiences difficulties.

Family and friends should be cheerleaders for breastfeeding. It makes such a difference to encourage mothers on their journey to provide their babies with the best nutrition. Even if you did not have a positive breastfeeding experience with your baby, each woman should make sure to fully encourage the new mothers in their social circle to continue with it for as long as possible.

Workplace support can make a real difference as well when it comes to maintaining breastfeeding after the end of maternity leave. We certainly need some workplace policies to be put in place that are designed to create an enabling environment to support breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding those who have returned to work should be entitled to two 30-minute breaks to express breast milk. A private room and refrigeration facilities for safely storing breast milk can provide further necessary support.

Society needs to be aware of attitudes that discourage breastfeeding and sometimes even shame breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding is perfectly natural and should be normalised and championed across communities. We each must do our part to support, promote and protect breastfeeding as a national asset. It makes sense for us to ensure that our breastfeeding moms feel valued for the great choice they are making, often sacrificing their own comfort for the wellbeing of their babies.

Interventions to improve breastfeeding should not be targeted solely at the mother, however. Those around her have considerable influence and need education about the importance of breastfeeding and about their roles as supporters, particularly for older generations whose breastfeeding knowledge originates from a time when infant-feeding advice was markedly different. Educating family members, especially the maternal grandmother, extended family, and the father of the baby may provide a better means of providing information and enhancing support—at least in the context of Bangladesh.

Everyone—from decision-makers, healthcare institutions, healthcare professionals, employers, the media, experts, family members, colleagues, to friends—in their own capacity can assist in the breastfeeding process by providing support, advice, commitment, promotion, care, enabling flexible hours for working mothers, or even just by encouraging breastfeeding.

Alongside enhanced investment in breastfeeding support to prevent difficulties from arising, greater and wider investment is needed in supporting new mothers. Mothers need to feel socially supported in their new role, which can also help give them more confidence to breastfeed.

Governments must invest financially in protecting new mothers, not least because of the potential financial return. However, although some aspects such as laws and policy can easily be universal, given limited economies, interventions must focus on those who are the most vulnerable such as mothers from the poorer sections of our society.

New mothers need the support to recover from the rigours of pregnancy and childbirth so that they can cope well with the different challenges presented by infant care. Nothing compares to breastfeeding a baby; it is priceless for their healthy growth. It not only provides them with necessary nutrition, but also protects them from various diseases. Let us support and encourage mothers in those critical hours after birth, and continue the support for the first six months of the baby's life and also over the longer term as they strive to do their best for their children. Protecting breastfeeding is one essential element of this support.

Fahmida Hashem is a senior nutritionist at Labaid Cardiac Hospital.