Breastfeeding

The topic I chose to research and write about was breastfeeding, for this is how my three children were fed the first months of their lives. With my first son, I was only 18; I was confused on how to do it. He wanted to eat every 30 to 45 minutes and I was exhausted so I could only do it for about 2 weeks before I gave up. With my second son, I breastfed for exactly 1 year, he did not want to switch to the bottle or zippy cup. For my last one, I breastfed for months, he changed directly to the zippy cup and did not want to change back after trying it.

Because I know how much effort the hospitals in the United States give to teaching mothers on the positives of breastfeeding, I decided to research how breastfeeding is viewed on other parts of the world.

I truly believe that employers need to give time to nursing mothers, if not to nurse the child, to pump out the milk. It is a right as mothers that we have the necessary supply of milk to feed our children properly.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), launched in 1991, is an effort by UNICEF and the World Health Organization to ensure that all maternities whether free standing or in a hospital, become centers of breastfeeding support.

In today’s society even celebrities understand and promote the positive effects of breastfeeding for young children. For example, Salma Hayek, that on a trip to Sierra Leone she breastfeed another woman’s child. The actress and producer was told by doctors in Sierra Leone that many mothers stop breastfeeding their infants within the first few months after birth because of pressure from their husbands. Tradition has it, in some areas, that it is not acceptable to have sexual relations with breast feeding women.

 

Sierra Leone has the highest infant mortality rate in the world, in part fueled by malnutrition. Physicians there told Hayek they would like to see mother’s breastfeed for a full two years but that stigma too often gets in the way.  Hayek said her decision to breastfeed another woman's child was an attempt to diminish the stigma placed on women for breast feeding.

Benefits of Breastfeeding:

• Recent studies show that babies who are exclusively breastfed for 6 months are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses. They may also be less likely to develop childhood obesity.
• Breastfeeding delays the return of menstrual periods and may aid in spacing pregnancies.
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
• Breastfeeding creates a strong bond between mother and child.
• Breastfeeding mothers have increased self-esteem.

Benefits of breastfeeding for families and society:

• Breastfeeding saves the family budget hundreds of dollars.
• Breastfeeding saves on health care costs.

Breastfeeding Success Stories

In Cuba, where 49 of the country's 56 hospitals and maternity facilities are baby-friendly, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at four mounths almost tripled in six years - from 25 per cent in 1990 to 72 per cent in 1996.

In the first two years of BFHI implementation at the Central Hospital of Libreville in Gabon, cases of neonatal diarrhoea fell by 15 per cent, diarrhoeal dehydration declined by 14 per cent and mortality fell by 8 per cent.

In China, which now has more than 6,000 Baby-Friendly Hospitals, exclusive breastfeeding in rural areas rose from 29 per cent in 1992 to 68 per cent in 1994; in urban areas, the increase was from 10 per cent to 48 per cent.

The Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, initiated one of the first baby-friendly hospitals. As a result, initiation of breastfeeding within the first two hours increased. With a strong Step 10, a monthly clinic, exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months increased from approximately 20% to over 60%.

Reference:

http://www.babymilk.nestle.com/breastfeeding-is-best/breastfeeding-in-developing-countries/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/facts.htm

http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-world.php

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=6854285&page=1

Child Birth

Child Birth

I am mother of three wonderful boys (7, 4, 2) and each birth was completely from the others. But the one I remember the most was the birth of my first child, just because it was the only one that was natural birth. I remember the night before I had an urge to clean the entire house, bathed the dogs, and everything in between. I went to bed around midnight and right away my contractions began to come about every 3- 4 minutes. Around 1:30 am we headed to the hospital, my husband had the greatest idea to stop and get gas on the way.

During labor, I felt every pain possible because the epidural did not work for me. The anesthesiologists replaced the epidural injection twice, and still did not work.

But it was the most amazing feeling bringing a baby to this world.  

Childbearing

In Sweden, birth is seen as a woman's accomplishment. Pain medication is available, but not encouraged. The instance of epidural is lower in Sweden, most likely due to the fact that even hospital births are managed by highly trained midwives, not doctors. Prenatal care is free and the absence of it is unheard of.

Women in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula still regularly use midwives. In fact, they traditionally deliver in the matrimonial hammock, which they receive when they are married.

In Holland, pain relief during childbirth is managed entirely through breathing and relaxation techniques. Medication is strongly discouraged in the hospital, but the majority of women in Holland still give birth at home with midwives.

(http://pregnancy.families.com/blog/lets-talk-about-the-cultures-of-childbearing 2011)