Breastfeeding
I find breastfeeding a very
important health impact on child’s development. This is because it has been
proven and universally accepted as the best source of food and nutrient for the
development of a child, so I believe it is the right of every child to be
breastfed
Breastfeeding is the best
natural source of food for an infant as well as protection against infections
and diseases .For most newborns, good nutrition starts with mother’s milk, colostrums,
a thick high calorie fluid, is secreted by a woman’s breast for about the first
three days following the birth of her child. After that, the breast begins to
produce ideal for infant food. Berger, (2009).The benefits of breastfeeding to
both mother and baby is greatly enormous yet .babies who are exclusively
breastfed are less likely to get sick Although not everyone might be opportune
to breastfeed due to illness or diseases, yet some mother still see it a choice
between infant formula and breast milk.
My experience of motherhood
herein Saudi Arabia has exposed me to the fact that there is an obvious
signifant decrease in breastfeeding among mothers in Saudi. Back at home in
Nigeria, exclusive breastfeeding is highly publicized even though its advocacy
is faced with challenges, malnutrition on the part of the mother, economic
challenges; Mothers have to work and sometimes find it difficult working and exclusively breastfeeding
their babies. when I was in Nigeria, if you are a new mother you are expected
to breastfeed your baby exclusively at least for the first six month, meaning
that you are not expected to be seen with feeding bottles when you come for
your baby’s vaccination, but here in Saudi Arabia, formula is given to babies
as early as you can imagine, you can see it so publicly mothers feeding their one
week old infant formula when they come for check up. I could remember when I
had my baby and I could not breastfeed her frequently after my C-section, so
she was introduced to formula while I was recuperating was breastfeeding as
well as nurses giving her baby formula milk. When I was leaving the hospital
the nurse specifically told me to continue feeding her formula because she seemed
to love it, she even gave me some to take home. Immediately I left the hospital
I stop the formula and did exclusive breastfeeding and my baby was okay.
Saudi Arabia places high
priority on the health and well being of its population but it amazes me why so
much priority is not place on breastfeeding since it contains the best source
of nutrient accurate for the development of a child. Saudis attitude to
breastfeeding is not so encouraging, in fact, the issue has raised concern
because it is so ironical that a country which ways of life is largely determined
by the tenets of Islam and Islam advocates breastfeeding for two years ,yet a large
number of women do not breastfeed
Dr. Modia Batterjee, author of
the book,’ Understanding Breastfeeding in the Middle East’ expressed concern
over the significant decrease in breastfeeding in Saudi Arabia.
The book reports on a study Dr.
Modia Batterjee conducted to understand the complex reasons that Saudi women
rarely breastfeed exclusively despite recommendations by the World Health
Organization to do so for the first six months. The reasons are similar to
those in the western world–employment out of the home; lack of ability to
observe other nursing mothers as the extended family structure dissolves, marketing
by formula manufacturers, and lack of knowledge by health care professionals.
In addition, older Saudi women, who generally do not breastfeed their own
children, have a great deal of influence on their daughters’ feeding choices.
Full Article Here
Pitfalls
in Saudi Arabia Leading to Breastfeeding Failure
There are many cultural
practices and beliefs that prevent both exclusive and long-term breastfeeding
of babies in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab world.
1.
Separation after birth. Babies should be
placed on the mother’s stomach immediately after birth, and kept with the
mother throughout the hospital stay. Even in the case of a cesarean section the
mother can breastfeed immediately after the surgery, as long as she is alert
and has help. Early feedings are important to establish the milk supply and for
baby to get colostrums, the early milk that coats the stomach and prevents
harmful bacteria from entering the baby’s system.
2.
Teas and formula. In Saudi Arabia, babies are often served
tea or formula to soothe tummy aches or help baby sleep. But these interfere
with the mother’s milk supply, which works according to supply and demand. If
the breast is not emptied frequently enough, they gradually produce less milk.
3.
Nipple confusion. Some babies start to prefer the bottle
after having been fed a supplement. It’s not always the nipple itself that is
the issue. Sometimes it’s the mother’s low supply, or the baby’s inability to
breastfeed well that leads a baby to prefer the bottle. Fixing these problems
usually reverses the preference.
4.
Questions about milk supply. This is a major concern among Saudi
women. According to Batterjee the important signs are satiety after each feed,
the number of urine-filled diapers, and the color of the stools. She emphasizes
night-feeding as an important factor in maintaining supply. Her recommendation
to nurse on only one side may not work well for all mothers especially in the
early weeks when the supply is being established. Current recommendations are
to let baby finish the first side at each feeding, and then offer the second.
5.
Correct latch-on. Babies need to suckle in a way that
allows the nipple to reach back against the baby’s soft palate to avoid pain
and transfer a good supply of milk.
6.
Birth. Pain medications during labor cross the
placenta and affect both the baby and the mother in the early stages of
breastfeeding.
Full Article Here
I have come to realize that although there is
growing attention ,there is need for more education on how to go about it
successfully, how important and beneficial it is for both mother and children
especially because there is also growing number of breast cancer among Saudi women
which might be associated to lack of breastfeeding amongst other factors.with this knowledge I would try to encourage mothers on health benefits of breastfeeding on their child and as well themselves,when I eventually have my own child care center
Reference
Batterjee ,M.
(2010).A Fading Art: Understanding Breastfeeding in the Middle East
Berger, K.S,(2009). The Developing person through childhood
I enjoyed reading your post. You gave a lot of information about breastfeeding. I know now that if I was ever to have children I would breastfeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post and support of one of the most important aspects of nutrition for our babies and their future health. I have heard that breast feeding does limit the possibility of breast cancer. Woman were not given breasts for nothing and the sweet nectar that constitutes breast milk makes all babies happy . There is even a natural sedative in Mothers milk, it is truly amazing.
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